Thursday, May 03, 2007

Mammograms Can Have Negative Long-Term Results

I'd written earlier about the possibility being raised that having a mammogram actually doesn't up your chances of surviving breast cancer when compared with women (like me) who skip them.

Now here's an article on how false-positive mammograms can actually have Negative Long-Term Results.

I'll also note that the new standard of care is now very up in the air about whether mammograms should be recommended for women 40-50 AT ALL. Ask your doc.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that is a dangerous recommendation. I have a friend who was 48 when diagnosed with invasive breast cancer that might have been discovered earlier via mammogram if she had not neglected to get them. Chris, RN

GreenFertility said...

Thanks, Chris. Please not, I am NOT recommending any course of action as I am not a health professional, I am only writing about my own experience and what the literature has to say.

I do know two people who have undergone chemo and radiation for "calcium deposits" on their mammos, which they were told were "probably" precancerous. I don't know if something like that is counted as "early detection and cure." One friend regrets being pressured into invasive treatment so quickly. And again, just recently, doctors are finally believing b/c patients who say they have "chemo brain." Chemo DOES kill neurons but for years the medical profession said it was hypochondria...I think it's best to take all the risks and benefits into account and then proceed.

There's more lively discussion on this issue going at Maya's Mom:

http://www.mayasmom.com/journal/greenfertility/23844/mammograms_can_have_negative_long-term_results

Anonymous said...

I think it's best if we ask an expert's opinion first before taking the course of action. With these rumors, we can't be sure that it's 100% safe.

GreenFertility said...

Yes, I agree. I don't take ANYTHING for granted. Remember when they used to use X rays to find out your shoe size. oooop!

Anonymous said...

I also agree. Technology is great but we can't be too sure about it's side effects, especially in the long run. It could have different effects on different cases.

Anonymous said...

I think that long-term effects are still not considered by some researchers, especially if it's negligible. Since the use of this machine doesn't specify age requirements, it could be that some long-term effects are negligible on old patients.

GreenFertility said...

yes, but check out the newest post--i think they are realizing that getting zillions of mammograms starting 30s 40s could possibly CAUSE breast cancer

Anonymous said...

Does anyone remember when they were young and "mother" said be very careful not to get hit etc. in your breast or where anything to tight??? So now we are supposed to have our breasts squeezed down like a pancake...for way to long...and this is healthy??...I am in agreement...Mamograms..may cause cancer...how do we know for sure....??? Why are there so many women with breats cancer????

Anonymous said...

喝花酒
酒店喝酒
暑假打工
寒假打工
酒店小姐
酒店兼職
禮服店
酒店經紀
酒店兼差
酒店
酒店經紀人
酒店現領
酒店經紀爆米花
酒店經紀
酒店打工
酒店上班
假日打工
台北酒店經紀
酒店pt
酒店pt
酒店應酬
粉味
酒店經紀PRETTY GIRL
酒店經濟
酒店經濟
晚上兼差