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Should I get a mammogram?
The public health messages about mammograms have never been more confusing.
For years, we were told every woman over 40 should get a mammogram every year so doctors could detect breast cancer before it became widespread. Although the American Cancer Society is continuing that recommendation, they admitted last month that mammography can “miss cancers that need treatment, and in some cases find disease that does not need treatment.”
That means women are going through chemotherapy and radiation for tumors that don't need intervention. Unfortunately, doctors can't tell the difference yet.
I've had a couple of mammograms over the years but let my prescription for the last one lapse because I've been reading so much about the controversy over their usefulness. I have an appointment next week with my ob-gyn and definitely will broach this topic.
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Comments
There is another procedure-thermography-that is safer and more useful, but of course the insurance companies won't pay for it.
Posted by: BrowardMom | November 4, 2009 1:09 PM
There is another procedure-thermography-that is safer and more useful, but of course the insurance companies won't pay for it.
Posted by: BrowardMom | November 4, 2009 1:09 PM
There is another procedure-thermography-that is safer and more useful, but of course the insurance companies won't pay for it.
Posted by: BrowardMom | November 4, 2009 1:09 PM
I don't think the question should be "Should I get a mammogram" but should be something more like "should I get a test other than -- or in addition to -- a mammogram."
To not get a mammogram because it might miss a tumor or that it might find disease that does not need treatment is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard, and to suggest that a woman should consider not being tested is pretty irresponsible.
The purpose of a mammogram is to discover a tumor while it is in its early stages so that the chances of removing the cancer and curing the patient has the best chance for success.
No test is 100% accurate, but its better to get the mammogram and possibly find the cancer than to skip the test and then only find out later (when the tumor is much larger and it might be too late) that you have cancer.
And with regard to having unnecessary chemo and radiation because mammograms sometimes find disease that does not need treatment. I'm sorry, but that argument makes no sense. A mammogram only finds a mass in the breast... it does NOT tell you whether that mass is a cancerous tumor. Tests (i.e, a biopsy) have to be done to see if the mass is cancerous or not. Thus, if unnecessary treatment is given to the patient, the problem was most likely the follow-up tests which were done or perhaps an error by the Doctor. But to blame unnecessary treatment on a mammogram is inane, and to suggest that women consider foregoing a test on this basis is reckless and irresponsible.
Let me ask you this Ms. Solomon, if you had a lump in your breast which was found by either a self- exam or a mammogram, and you were not sure whether it was cancerous or not, would you take the risk of not getting radiation and/or chemo on the hope that you had one of those cases in which the "disease does not need treatment.”???
Posted by: Joe | November 4, 2009 2:30 PM
Hello
You are absolutely right that over 40 woman should get a mammogram every year.Its really necessary for every woman.I believe that precaution is better than cure.Thank you very much for sharing this with us.
Posted by: fer | November 5, 2009 2:48 AM