Is it possible that not all breast cancer is bad news?
Yes, it’s true.
Many women are overdiagnosed and treated for breast cancer that would never cause a problem for them throughout their entire lives if left alone according to a recent article published in the Medical Journal of Australia.
Associate Professor Robin Bell of Monash University in Australia, says:
“Overdiagnosis amounts to women having a small, slow-growing cancer being diagnosed and treated, where in her lifetime that cancer may not have required treatment.”
Professor Bell is calling for a more balanced approach to breast cancer screening which fully informs women of the harm of breast cancer screening/treatment versus the very small or negligible benefits of treatment for such slow growing, nonlifethreatening breast cancers.
A 2010 study found that for every 2000 women screened over a 10 year period, only one woman would have her life prolonged as a result of the screenings yet 10 women would be treated unnecessarily.
The results of this study certainly put in the spotlight whether mammography has any benefit whatsoever particularly given that the radiation exposing screening method causes breast cancer itself!
They certainly don’t seem like very appealing odds to me!
As a middle aged woman who has never had a mammogram nor plans to ever have one (following in the footsteps of my 86 year old mother who has refused them all her life), this study adds further evidence of the wisdom of such an out of the box decision.
It would behoove women given the dire diagnosis of breast cancer to delve into whether their breast cancer really and truly requires treatment or would in fact be better left alone. At the very least, a second or even a third opinion would seem warranted.
Sometimes bad news might not really be bad news after all.
UPDATE: A far better way to screen safely for breast cancer and avoid the misdiagnosis potential of mammograms is to get annual breast ultrasound screening. How to do this without a prescription and the 7 benefits to health in doing so are provided in the linked article. Breast thermography is another safe, effective, no radiation tool for cancer screening that does not result in overtreatment or misdiagnosis.
Sarah, The Healthy Home Economist
Sources and More Information
Benefits of Cancer Screening Exaggerated
Women Overdiagnosed with Breast Cancer
170 Scientific Studies Confirm the Dangers of Soy
The Dangers of Estrogenic Foods, Herbs and Supplements to Breast Health
Komen (Not) for the Cure: The Complete and Utter Pinkwashing of America
Thermography: A Perfect Alternative to Cancer Causing Mammograms?
Why Even Organic Soy Formula is so Dangerous for Babies
How the Birth Control Pill Can Harm Your Future Child’s Health
At 63 I found a lump in my right breast. I drove 400 miles to a doctor I trusted, was sent tothe hospital tohave a mamogram and was declared OK. For 4 years I did not believe I was ok. The lump was still there and seemed larger. I went for a mamogram locally and was told everything was fine. I took the nursel’s hand and put it on the lump and said, “then what is this?” and she immediately started taking pictures higher on the tail of the breast. I drove 25 miles home and found they were frantically trying to call me to come back. When I returned they sent me to a local doctor who did an immediate biopsy in his office and they found cancer. At that word I panicked and said I wanted it off as of yesterday! I had a right mastectomy a week later, and am only sorry I didn’t insist both breasts be removed. Being a 36DD I had a breast form to wear that was of equal or more weight than the breast they removed. For 25 years (I am now 91) I have endured annual mamograqms and the wearing of that heavy prosthesis. I could have been wearing any size breasts I wanted all that time! I no longer endure the mamograms after they finally squeezed me flat as a pancake.
After a 5 yr battle, with what I believe was uterine cancer, battled w nutrition & homeopathy. I finally had my uterus removed. I would not have had it removed had I not had my whole immune system compromised. It took me 7 docs & 2 out of network to get my surgery. Still they never would give me simple blood marker test. Just wanted me to take all sorts of drugs for other things they thought I might have, yet didn’t test for:( now over 2 years later it seems the cancer is fighting to come back elsewhere. A friend asked if “diagnosed”. I said I wont put myself through MD he’ll again. I have numerous confirmations of what I am dealing with, why subject my body to such harm, yet alone pocket book. My body has had time to heal many of my other issues do I know I can win this battle much easier because it is stronger. No “diagnosis” by allopathy would change my healing regimen. I was done with toxic medicine before my last battle. The last battle got me done with “diagnostics”, though I did need that surgery.
Thanks, for having courage & taking the hate mail from those who don’t know/experienced another way yet.
This is a great post , thank you. I have suspected this for some time and glad to have it confirmed. On a lighter note, I’m shocked to hear that you are in your late forties ! lol .
When Breast Cancer Isn’t Bad News http://t.co/4vVOlEMW From The Healthy Home Economist
Flavia, the quote didn’t leave those questions unanswered. Read it more carefully and you can generate the percentages yourself. It says 10 out of every 2000 screened were treated and only one out of every 2000 had their life prolonged because of treatment. It doesn’t say there were only 2000 people in the study, it’s actually giving you the percentages you’re asking for in a slightly different format.
The allopathic community has this absolutely obsessive fear (and ignorance) of any and all illness or dis-ease. We have an immune system that is (or should be) dynamic. Illness and dis-ease might actually be teaching us something VALUABLE. Fear and ignorance are the biggest precursors to illness, and the medical profession encourages those fears and doubts far too often.
It’s funny how “they” say “so and so” died of cancer when in fact they died of the chemo treatments as I’ve witnessed time and time again. I would rather change my diet or move to a better climate than give my body to Dr. Jeckle.
If my mother had never had a mammogram, she would be dead. She had her first mammogram at age 53 after taking HRT drugs (Premarin) for seven years following a complete hysterectomy for two very large fibroid tumors. It has been 22 years since that mammogram test and I am thankful that she did it and followed through with the surgery to the cancer removed (she did not require any additional treatment with chemotherapy or radiation).
Every woman needs to evaluate what has been going on with her body, family cancer history, and other medical conditions before deciding whether or not to have these testing procedures.
My GYN has been pressuring me to get my annual mammogram. I’m done with exposing my breasts to radiation to detect cancer. I am 45, and I have had 3 0r 4 annual mammograms done starting at age 39. I found a lump in my breast in my late 30s, which turned out to be a cyst found on ultrasound. Before digital x-rays, I would have to have about 4 different x-rays taken on each breast because my breasts are so dense, before they would do an ultrasound on me. I think the only reason they don’t routinely do ultrasounds for cancer detection is because it’s more expensive than x-rays.
I would respect my GYN more if he gave me ways to prevent cancer, like checking my vitamin D levels and supplementing when appropriate, but he just uses fear tactics like, “you might get cancer and die if you don’t have this test”. That just pisses me off even more.
It’s great you are not afraid to write about such a controversial topic. I agree 100%. Even though I’m only 34, I will not be getting a mammogram. My mom is 62 years of age and she is against them too. What I don’t understand is why people are so scared to go against what mainstream medicine advises when it’s clearly not the best strategy to prevention based on the latest studies and research. I find it extremely frustrating that people see this type of information as such a threat and a scare, but kudos to you for sharing this info. It needs to be heard whether people accept it or not.