What to Know About the Mammography Debate

At what age should women’s breasts receive radiation to detect breast cancer? In Canada, some provinces are lowering the age of eligibility from 50 to 40, even before a task force releases an update on breast cancer screening guidelines. The current guidelines do not recommend routine screening for women in their 40s. In the U.S., a separate task force urges women ages 40 to 49 to get this procedure every two years. Why the conflicting advice?

Mammography as been swirling in confusion for decades. In the past, some experts were adamant there was no evidence regular mammograms decreased the risk of breast cancer. Others, equally qualified authorities, were concerned that repeated exposures of breast tissues to radiation could cause breast malignancies.

A significant fact tends to go unnoticed. Women are told over and over that routine breast cancer screening diagnoses early breast malignancies. This is a half truth. What the medical profession should say is that breast cancer screening diagnoses a malignancy as early as possible. Why is this distinction vital?

Mammography is a “lump diagnosis”, meaning cancer cannot be identified until a cancerous growth reaches a detectable size. Breast cancer may be present for several years before it can be seen by mammography. There is a possibility that it may have already spread to other parts of the body.

By Goldbug on 2024 03 09

Most radiologists would never allow their wife, daughters, sisters or mom to undergo mammography; they know the truth about it and its dangers. It is recommended only because cancer is BIG BUSINESS.

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