I had 2 mamms in my early 50's and both questionable, and then went to work on my research and found a great amount of info on this subject and also a foundation who does a lot of work in this area. I have not done once since and I'm 76 and have no plans to do anymore. The info below came in from a friend today...just proves all I've read over the years.
In the Cochrane study, 90,000 women were followed for 25 years. This is a very huge study, so the scientific weight of the study is also huge. The result is that mammograms provide no significant reduction in breast cancer. And that does not consider all the invasive procedure complications from a false positive, unnecessary surgeries, hospital acquired infections and similar. In fact if you have the BRCA1 gene, mammographies increase the likelihood you will get breast cancer. The Swiss have responded by no longer recommending mammographies. This is interesting about the Swiss....they are pushed like crazy in the U.S.
Another problem is that if you have dense breast tissue, a mammography is useless, can’t find cancer even when you have it but women are not warned about that.
This is creating lots of controversy. And show again how some of the past science was not really science with studies done incorrectly or biased.
Ok so now I'm really nervous as I have my first mammogram tomorrow. So are you saying that if you have c the gene having a mammogram triggers it?
I would be really grateful for your feedback. Where do these stats come from?
I heard of that or a similiar study ...including with reference to the choices of professional women in the medical sphere...many of whom elect not to accept mammography, cervical smear testing or any other intrusive type of testing.
If you need more time to reflect on this....do phone in and make your excuses on this occasion. You may well be fine but your state of mind is of the greatest importance. This will give you the opportunity to fully consider your position on the matter.
Marey is right, postpone and do some research for yourself.
As I said I had 2 back in my 50's and they were questionable, I hear this a lot from women, they have to go back for more testing, etc....a vicious cycle. A lot of fear and anxiety we women go thru....
Talk to others if you have not....most of my alternative thinking friends do NOT get them and they may have had a couple yrs ago but don't now.
Here in the U.S. they are pushing them on women as early as 30's I'm hearing......I'm too suspecious of the industry. But this is me.
I'm no expert but have done a LOT of research for myself over many years.
I won't put myself thru this anymore and have not for a lot of years...I take iodine drops daily to help with breast health. when I miss my drops I would get a little pain so I'm faithful.
I saw an integrative MD some years back and she had a thermography machine in her office for her patients, it is out of pocket testing, but not invasive at all...I never did one of these either.....I just CHOSE to believe my breasts are healthy and fine. My MD often does a manual exam when I see her once a year.
Plus when I got on pycnogenol back in 1995, we were told it MAY prevent cancer, can't get that line out of my mind. I've read where cancer research centers now use pycnogenol and grape seed extract in their cancer research......you can search that on line too;;;
google: pycnogenol and grape seed extract and cancer
Thank you. I am 41 and due to additional health challenges all occurring at the sane time as hypermobility fibromyalgia chronic pain syndrome my g.p. due to family history as well as put me forward for full screening. I have always worked with alternative treatment but due to having emergency treatment for a broken ankle and this c weekend an asthma attack (in not asthmatic) I feel I have been forced to accept this and combine it with my alternative care too. I live in the UK and it is very new for us here to have such high duty of care in this area for women particularly highlighted by celebrities and media.
I feel that if I dont take this opportunity now I will then worry.
All of this has occurred in past 18 months. I am not a worrier, am highly proactive and resourceful however due to my company letting me go and major benefit delays I am really limited to funds to invest. I have tried making herbal remedies myself for pain relief etc but there is only so much I can do.
Not sure?!
Yes, it's strange that this should cause such controvery. Seems like these studies should cause insight and relief that mammograms aren't needed or particularly useful. But, I guess that there's money to be made in pushing them. I've been following these studies for a number of years and have chosen not to have mammograms for the last several years. I guess that I could have thermography, but I just reallly think that since most women find tumors themselves, that I will know when I have a possible problem. And the research also finds that some small tumors are often naturally resolved in our bodies, and so scary to jump on them when it invites so many medical complications!
couldn't agree more Joy. Its an industry set up to benefit the contracting service provider and its staff...not the patient. Patients have to be drawn in, enticed, harangued, and as those tactics have been insufficient in terms of uptake, ultimately threatened, bullied and cohersed.
There is just no benefit to the patient. I would not get involved in that scenario if you paid me. No-one should feel that any medic has a hold over them or that as a grateful patient they owe a duty to undergo investigations. The patient has a duty only to themselves and in iniaiting investigations of value to themselves and
to further whatever is needed in terms of understanding so that the patient can take control of their health.
It is so important to feel happy and confident about any investigations and to have either initiated them or followed a line of enquiry which makes sense to the patient. If the slightest doubt exists best to call in sick/advise of an emergency or whatever and get out of it...this is catered for by hospitals so no guilt should be felt and certainly no obligation to go ...to benefit someone else/or the health care practioner. Its really hard when we feel we might be letting someone down but a quick call first thing in the morning gets one off the hook and gives time to consider all angles.
I agree with you Joy about the unwarranted risks and cannot remain silent.
Hi Ech
I was wondering whether you perceive some benefits to the testing? What might these be from your viewpoint?
thanks for this info i have never had one and dont intend to have one . i am 54 and have lots of lumps in my back arms and bust due to the fibro fat lymph stagnation i would say due to inactivity, well iv had them for over ten yrs and i am still here.
i also here women who have the mamogrammes regulary say things like it hurts due to the way they pull the bust around and squeeze them in to position.and more worring is they say that they bust have got bigger,
well that would worry me because surley if there are pre cancerous cells in your bust they would also get bigger, my friend died from breast cancer aged 47 ,well not from the cancer from the treatment ..il take my chances .
Thanks Joy. I have been having one annually sine i was 39 and always they came back clear. My mother had breast cancer so i am a bit torn on this subject. I feel i am doomed if i do and doomed if i dont.
Will try braving it and at least extend it out an extra year or two befor i have another one.
Wilma
Pain and radiation, those machines....
I count on my iodine daily for breast tissue and all other body tissues and grape seed ex as we were told it "may" prevent cancer back in 1995.
I think asthaxthin is the latest powerfl antioxidant.....this is the order I know about on the powerful antioxidants: pycnogenol, grape seed extract, resveratrol and asthaxthin. I have with the first 2 since 1995..
My mom never had a mamm, the women in her days didn't and I don't think they were even available until the 60's or so....none had B/C and at 86 my mom's doc sent her a postcard to get a mamm and she asked me and I said "mom your breasts are fine"....she threw the card away....she lived to 91 and I think she had some blood cancer in the end....we never knew for sure....
sounds like common sense to me hun , at 86 by the time they had pulled her about and proberly done some biopsies she wouldnt have been in such great shape ,anyway, lets face it radiation and chemo are to much for a young body . so why put someone of senior yrs thru it. leave athem alone you did right by your mum hun . 91 is a great age .
Hi ya joy,
I vaguely recall the Cochrane study...wasn't this a "meta analysis"? just cannot recall. Regardless...I agree with mm/s as you state..flawed....invasive, and potentially dangerous.
You and I were around in the 50's when ulcers and "spastic colon" (now IBS) was caused by "anxiety"...took 40 years for the entire medical profession to refuted by clinical proof...although IBS cause is yet Unknown..they have some good guess'es..then we both have good ones too.
I see now where this FodMap diet is getting a lot of "traction"....wager it will end up much like that of all others..however it will cause some troubles down the road quite sad for some....I'm still you elder...and hope to remain so for another 100 years.....claudio
It was my best friends Aniversary on the 20th of this month. 5 years ago aged 49. Now this is something i would like to talk about. My Dr wants me to use ovestin for the atrophy but its a hormone replacement and after using if for about a week my breasts were huge and sore. I have heard hormone therapy actually increases the risk of breast cancer. Has any one got any ideas about this?
Wilma
Hi Wilma--I'm using bioidentical hormones, and when my breasts enlarge or get sore I know that the hormones are not balanced correctly. Yes, it is also my understanding that when there is breast growth (and also uterine lining growth) there is the possibility that we are adding to cell proliferation, which can be later associated with cancer. So, I play with the doses to make sure that my breasts do not get sore--sometimes that means a lower dose of the estrogens, sometimes higher or lower progesterone. I just adjust each a bit until the soreness is gone but so I don't have breakthrough bleeding (the magic balance). I make sure to monitor my hormone levels with blood tests that my practitioner uses to keep an eye on things. Can you talk with your doctor about lowering the estrogen dose or adding more progesterone to balance it better? Perhaps there is a someone there who knows a lot about adjusting hormones optimally? --Suzanne
Oh, and the metastudy that suggested that hormone replacement therapy is potentially problematic used SYNTHETIC hormone replacement therapy (not bioidentical creams) which were found to be risky when given to older post-menopausal women who hadn't menstuated for a number of years, and it concluded that HRT increased risks for breast cancer in these older women (see the women's initiative study, I believe). So, if that's your situation, you may want to consider a lower dose, or a bioidentical cream to lower the associated risks if you're having side effects. I'm not a physician, so I'm just giving you my opinion. --Suzanne