| The government is waffling about the need for | | | | is no better at finding cancer than traditional |
| women to have mammograms before age 50 or | | | | mammography. The new system used in 30% of |
| even how often this needs to happen. | | | | all mammography centers resulted in many more |
| Mammograms are dangerous. There is almost | | | | false alarms, leading to additional mammograms |
| never a reason for a woman to have one. | | | | and ultrasounds additional exposure to radiation |
| The primary reason is that mammograms expose | | | | and additional cost. Insurance companies have |
| a women to a load of radiation equivalent to | | | | been urged to reconsider whether the systems |
| 1,000 chest X-rays. Since we know that radiation | | | | are worth covering. |
| causes cancer, it stand to reason that the | | | | Finally, the National Cancer Institute admits that |
| preventive test might actually cause the disease it | | | | monthly breast self-examinations (BSEs) following |
| is attempting to prevent. Over a period of years, | | | | a brief training, in conjunction with annual clinical |
| that amount of radiation can certainly cause | | | | breast examinations (CBEs) by a trained health |
| trouble. | | | | care professional, are at least as effective as |
| In addition, the extreme breast compression that | | | | mammography. |
| takes place during a mammogram might even | | | | Want more evidence? An article published in the |
| rupture an existing tumor, spilling possible | | | | Journal of the National Cancer Institute nearly nine |
| cancerous cells into the breast tissue and even | | | | years ago said that the more mammograms a |
| spreading the cancer. | | | | woman has had, the greater the chance she will |
| Doctors are fervent, even zealous about the idea | | | | get a result known in medical terms as a "false |
| that all women need annual mammograms form | | | | positive." That means that the radiologist who |
| the time they are 40. Doctors cite "research" | | | | reads the mammogram sees a suspicious change |
| showing that early stage breast cancer detecting | | | | in the breast tissue. |
| through mammogram screenings. | | | | False positives, which ultimately turn out to be |
| They say the mammograms will detect cancer | | | | benign or non-cancerous, usually end up with a |
| that women cannot discern in their monthly | | | | woman having further testing, including biopsies |
| breast self-exams. | | | | and even needless lumpectomies and |
| But what doctors don't tell you is that there is no | | | | mastectomies. |
| evidence that screening for breast cancer with | | | | The study of patients at Harvard hospitals in |
| mammograms saves women's lives. It is | | | | 2000 reported that if a woman has had 10 |
| interesting to note that although mammography | | | | mammograms, there is a 50 percent chance she |
| does lead to the discovery of smaller, | | | | will get a false positive. Worse yet, women with |
| earlier-stage cancerous tumors, that detection | | | | high risk factors for breast cancer had a 100 |
| does not lead to improves breast cancer survival | | | | percent false positive rate. That means every |
| rates over tumors discovered by physical | | | | single one had at least one breast cancer scare |
| examination alone. | | | | that turned out to be baseless. |
| As far back as 2001, European experts who | | | | The American Cancer Society guidelines |
| reviewed the health benefits of mammograms | | | | recommend all women over age 40 have a |
| were unable to find any proof of their benefits. | | | | screening mammogram every year, so by the |
| These finding undermined the initial study on which | | | | time a woman reaches age 50, she would have |
| modern mammograms are justified. | | | | had nine mammograms and quite likely at least |
| The nation's largest medical specialty group, the | | | | one false positive. |
| American College of Physicians, several years ago | | | | Mammograms are highly detrimental to your |
| questioned the wisdom of mammograms, | | | | body, mind and spirit. Avoid them at all costs. |
| particularly for women between 40 and 50. The | | | | Fortunately thermograms offer a safe and |
| 120,000-member association that represents | | | | effective alternative to mammograms that few |
| internists said the risks of mammography may | | | | of know about, let alone our doctors. |
| outweigh its benefits. | | | | I'll tell you more about thermograms in a future |
| Another study showed that a costly | | | | article. |
| computerized system to help read mammograms | | | | |