Just Say NO to Mammograms!!!!!

Just Say NO to Mammograms
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Many women are completely unaware that the science backing the use of mammograms is sketchy at best. As was revealed in a 2011 meta-analysis by the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews, mammography breast cancer screening led to 30 percent overdiagnosis and overtreatment, which equates to an absolute risk increase of 0.5 percent. 


In order to make better informed decisions, we provide our patients with all of their screening options, their strengths and weaknesses, and I reinforce that they have a right to utilize those options. Some of the options may include; self and clinical breast exams, Thermography and Ultrasound. 

Breast cancer has become big business, starting with the multi-billion dollar mammography. No other medical screening has been as aggressively promoted. 

Why are Nearly All Health Care Professionals Not Following Current Mammogram Recommendations?
Nearly every woman age 40 and older continues to be told by their primary care physician, their gynecologist, the media, self-proclaimed advocacy groups, and even their medical insurance carrier, “get your annual mammogram!” 

Thirty years of US government data studied found that as many as 1/3 of cancers detected by mammography may not have been life threatening, and that over 1 million women have been over-diagnosed; leading to unnecessary treatments involving disfiguring surgeries; radiation and chemotherapy. They also showed that mammogram screenings have increased from about 30 percent of women 40 and older in 1985, to about 70 percent of women screened, proving how effective we have been at convincing women they need to get a mammogram. 

This paradigm has seriously misled women regarding the actual effectiveness, and the benefits vs. potential dangers of mammograms. They also have women confused about the erroneous belief that mammography is their only tool. Some women actually believe mammograms can prevent cancer, or do not realize they have the right to say, no!
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Facts and Persisting Concerns: Mammograms

1. Mammograms are incorrect 80 percent of the time (providing a false negative or false positive)
2. Mammograms require repeated ionized radiation that can cause cancer
3. Mammograms use compression, which can damage breast tissue or potentially spread cancer
4. Mammograms are not effective for up to 50 percent of women (women with dense breasts or implants)
5. Mammograms can lead to over-diagnosis and over-treatment of non-invasive cancers
6. Mammograms can lead to the disturbing practice of “preventative” double mastectomies.

Just say NO to mammograms!  Watch this video presentation on mammograms on the dangers of breast examination: http://vimeo.com/77088100
In our practice, we recommend the combination of breast Thermography and Ultrasound, even for young women to get a baseline, but also combine the imaging not only with a review of the findings, but more importantly to educate women on breast health. It is far more effective to prevent breast cancer, to treat it. For more information on Thermography and Ultrasound go to:

http://www.phmiracleliving.com/t-MedicalImaging.aspx