Friday, November 27, 2009

Health

On Women Blog - U.S. News & World Report

If Breast Cancer Can Vanish on Its Own, Do You Still Need Mammograms?

November 25, 2008 10:16 AM ET | Deborah Kotz | Permanent Link | Print

Reader Comments

Diagnosed with Breast Cancer at age 40

I'm shocked and very disappointed over the news regarding new guidelines for breast cancer screening (and self exams).

I was diagnosed weeks after I turned 40 with breast cancer that was discovered by a self exam. With no medical history of breast cancer and a healthy track record throughout life I was shocked to receive confirmation of the diagnosis. I would encourage ALL women to have a mammogram at the age of 40 in addition to self exams - no matter what risk factors they may or may not have!

Thankfully, my cancer was found to be in stage 1 and hopefully something I won't have to re-address for many years to come, but I am grateful that it was discovered earlier rather than later! I believe that is the point to this...do you want to do something about the cancer early on or when it's at the progressed stages?

I am glad for all the publicity lately of breast cancer screening; however, I hope it will bring more women (especially those who do not have risk factors) to have a mammogram sooner than later!

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Thermography

Another alternative to mammograms is breast thermography, which detects cancer before it forms. To find out more information about it, check out this article: http://www.healthiertalk.com/crystal-ball-breast-cancer-0640.

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Mammograms

My husband found my first lump when I was in my early 30s; my doctor found one in the other breast, too, when I went in to have the first one checked. I thus began a regular routine of terror, biopsy, results--all negative for cancer--over a period of almost 30 years. I think I had every known type of biopsy. When the 10th lump was discovered when I was 58 I had progressed to a ho-hum attitude but underwent the procedure anyway, just to please the medics, I thought. Wrong! Maybe it would have gone away, but maybe it would have killed me. Were all those mammograms to blame? Who knows, who cares. I'm now a 14 year survivor.

Reducing Breast Cancer Risk Through Lifestyle

Scientists know that certain behaviors reduce breast cancer risk and recurrence (www.ReduceBreastCancerRisk.com). This study reinforces the idea that in some women, breast cancer can be stopped.

Women who are at risk for breast cancer or who have been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer should take heed and not let their anxiety get out of control. There are around 2.5 million breast survivors in this country. They have good reason to be optimistic.

No Mammo 4 me

I am a women's health provider, and I will not have a mammogram until I am 50. Yes, shooting radiation into the breasts at regular intervals in your 40's is, I feel, risky. I will not have that initial mammo until I am 50, thank you, and I provide all of my clients the documentation (studies) that brought me to that conclusion. Then it is up to the client. Almost all of them choose to start mammos at 40. Even the ones with NO family history. Yes, I know, 1 in 9 women will STIll get breast CA with no family history, but I feel all options need to be offered, and with consistent monthly BSE's, and an annual clinical BSE, I am comfortable waiting until I am 50.

Umm

Did it occur to anyone that the reason women who are "screened" more, have more cancer, may be because it is actually causing cancer?

Wow... what a crazy concept... let's not go there... let's just say the 22% increase after being bombarded with radiation is illustrating that some cancer is just "disappearing" on it's own, among those who are "screened" less.

You people are braindamaged by fluoride or something....

We are tired of your lies.

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About On Women

Deborah Kotz, senior writer for U.S. News & World Report, covers everything women care about when it comes to their health. She's often tapping out "Oprah-esque" confessions about how the latest news relates to her personally—whether it's on breast cancer, contraception or easing work-family stress. She'd love to hear your confessions too at onwomen@usnews.com. Also, you can follow Deborah on Twitter at twitter.com/debkotz2.

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