Mammograms A Double Edged Sword That Can Spread Cancer

Mammograms gives physicians the opportunity to view images of the breast to help them determine if a woman has breast cancer.

This is a welcomed advancement of Western science, but it has its drawbacks and the process can also cause and spread cancer.

The report “Breast Cancer and the Environment: A Life Course Approach” by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the ionizing radiation from mammograms could cause cell mutation and increase breast cancer risk.

The risk of cancer caused by mammograms is downplayed by proponents because it doesn’t emit much more radiation compared to a regular chest x-ray: 0.4 mSv compared to 0.1 mSv^[1].

We are exposed natural background radiation that mainly comes from the sun and radon, which is a naturally occurring radioactive gas.

The amount of background radiation present in the environment hasn’t changed from the 1980’s, but United States’ citizen’s radiation exposure has nearly doubled, and experts believe the main reason for the increase is the use of x-rays, mammograms, and CT scans.

The exposure to radiation from medical imaging has grown from 15% in the 1980’s to 50% currently^[2].

Mammograms carry a 6 percent rate of false positives which can lead to repeated testing and radiation exposure and invasive procedures. If you undergo a mammogram you have a 35 percent increased risk of having surgery.^[3]

On top of the increased risk of cancer caused by the radiation exposure, the pressing of the breast tissue could dislodge breast cancer cells if they were present.

A mammogram requires the breast to be compressed in order for an image to be taken. Unfortunately if there is an existing lump the compression can crush the cancerous lump and dislodge cancer cells allowing them to circulate to other parts of the body.

A question women are forced to confront is the risk of developing cancer from undergoing a mammogram worth it?

It is best to get a mammogram as least as possible. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggested women ages 50 to 74 get screened every 2 years, and women 40 to 75 should speak with their doctors to see if the benefits outweigh the risk.

Some doctors will recommend a yearly mammogram, and also recommend women get tested at an earlier age. Based on the recommendation by the task force, you should avoid this recommendation.

To reduce the risk of breast cancer and the need to have a mammogram done, women should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, avoid estrogen–progestin hormone therapy, exercise regularly, and postmenopausal women should avoid being overweight and obese.

Tags: anti-cancer, cancer awareness