Question for the ladies - mammograms
Apr 22nd 2013, 12:48 pm
#31
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
We have had discussions before about the pros and cons of mammograms. Some thought that the stress of getting 'false alarms' outweighed the benefits. I don't agree...a mass was detected on my mammogram a few years ago. It turned out to be a benign cyst. I would rather undergo a thousand biopsies rather than having to face breast cancer.
Apr 22nd 2013, 2:07 pm
#32
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I started having them annually when I was in my late twenties as I thought I had found some lumps (turned out to be just cysts) and also have extremely dense tissue, which makes detection hard. One lovely doctor once described my attributes as resembling "bags of gravel"! 
Thirty years later, I'm still having mammograms annually, but the current doctrine mandates that I also have an ultrasound too, because of my dense tissue. Yes, it pinches for 30 seconds when you are trapped in the machine, but I think it is absolutely worth it.
Thirty years later, I'm still having mammograms annually, but the current doctrine mandates that I also have an ultrasound too, because of my dense tissue. Yes, it pinches for 30 seconds when you are trapped in the machine, but I think it is absolutely worth it.
Apr 22nd 2013, 3:39 pm
#33
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
Your choice, do it or not do it.
Mammograms do not "hurt", they are just uncomfortable.
Doesn't matter what size your breasts are, it is uncomfortable for anyone.
Most insurances cover the cost at your yearly well woman exam if you are 40 or over.
Not everyone that is diagnosed with BC has a family history, there are many types of BC.
Self breast exams are important but, as mentioned, by the time you feel a lump it has been there a while and could be a major problem. Mammograms detect them early.
Even women who are well, that never have other problems can get BC, it is an equal opportunity disease and is also not entirely age related either.
Right now BC is destroying the life of someone very close to me, she has spent the last 4 months having chemo and in a few weeks she will be having a complete mastectomy. There is no family history and she never ever felt any lumps, at 50 she had her first mammogram, it was clear. At 55 she had her 2nd one and that was last December when it was detected. Would she be in a better position if she had yearly mammograms? I think so, but she is in the UK and it is not the way they schedule them.
As I said at the start, you either do it or you don't. It is available, it is relatively painless and most times free with insurance and also gives you peace of mind. It could also save your life.
Mammograms do not "hurt", they are just uncomfortable.
Doesn't matter what size your breasts are, it is uncomfortable for anyone.
Most insurances cover the cost at your yearly well woman exam if you are 40 or over.
Not everyone that is diagnosed with BC has a family history, there are many types of BC.
Self breast exams are important but, as mentioned, by the time you feel a lump it has been there a while and could be a major problem. Mammograms detect them early.
Even women who are well, that never have other problems can get BC, it is an equal opportunity disease and is also not entirely age related either.
Right now BC is destroying the life of someone very close to me, she has spent the last 4 months having chemo and in a few weeks she will be having a complete mastectomy. There is no family history and she never ever felt any lumps, at 50 she had her first mammogram, it was clear. At 55 she had her 2nd one and that was last December when it was detected. Would she be in a better position if she had yearly mammograms? I think so, but she is in the UK and it is not the way they schedule them.
As I said at the start, you either do it or you don't. It is available, it is relatively painless and most times free with insurance and also gives you peace of mind. It could also save your life.
Do I like mammogram? No. Does it ruin my ruin my day having one? Not as much as finding I had breast cancer and it could have been detected sooner.........
Apr 22nd 2013, 4:39 pm
#34
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
What if the test provides no benefit in clinical outcomes at a particular age but risks more harm through false positives? For prostate cancer, for example, several studies have indicated that this indeed is the case in using PSA as a marker. For breast cancer it is a lot less clear cut, as mammograms have clearly reduced deaths from breast cancer. However, based on clinical studies, the The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations are now for mammograms starting at age 50 and then every 2 years.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Apr 22nd 2013 at 4:42 pm.
Apr 22nd 2013, 4:41 pm
#35
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I think it now has to be free thanks to a requirement in the "socialist" Affordable Care Act. Ditto for colonoscopies. A great policy, imo.
Apr 22nd 2013, 10:26 pm
#36
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
My ob/gyn is the current Chairperson of the ACOG District VIII, she is progressive and doesn't just preach against mammograms (she is in favour of them in certain situations) but she hands out reading material to back up everything she says.
Apr 22nd 2013, 10:35 pm
#37
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
What if the test provides no benefit in clinical outcomes at a particular age but risks more harm through false positives? For prostate cancer, for example, several studies have indicated that this indeed is the case in using PSA as a marker. For breast cancer it is a lot less clear cut, as mammograms have clearly reduced deaths from breast cancer. However, based on clinical studies, the The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations are now for mammograms starting at age 50 and then every 2 years.
Apr 22nd 2013, 11:13 pm
#38
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
Apr 22nd 2013, 11:21 pm
#39
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...ost-women.html
http://www.preventcancer.com/patient...ammography.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...tic-mutations/
As to your question in general, I would say it depends what actions are taken in the case of a (false) positive. This is why PSA screening is a lot more controversial than mammograms:- studies seem to indicate that the former often leads to prostate surgery that may be unnecessary and have serious side effects.
Last edited by Giantaxe; Apr 22nd 2013 at 11:25 pm.
Apr 22nd 2013, 11:25 pm
#40
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
Some discussion here. It's worth noting that mammograms aren't risk-free in that you're exposing yourself to radiation:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...ost-women.html
http://www.preventcancer.com/patient...ammography.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...tic-mutations/
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-0...ost-women.html
http://www.preventcancer.com/patient...ammography.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_1...tic-mutations/
I think that pros outweigh the cons in this instance. At least I'm going to go with that one.
Apr 22nd 2013, 11:28 pm
#41
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I think they do as well, but I do wonder why the US tests earlier and more often than other countries, especially given recent studies that indicate that it doesn't reduce the mortality rate from breast cancer.
Apr 22nd 2013, 11:49 pm
#42
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
Obviously there's a benefit in getting a suspected broken bone x-rayed. The point was that a (false) positive is likely to lead to repeat mammograms etc.
I think they do as well, but I do wonder why the US tests earlier and more often than other countries, especially given recent studies that indicate that it doesn't reduce the mortality rate from breast cancer.
I think they do as well, but I do wonder why the US tests earlier and more often than other countries, especially given recent studies that indicate that it doesn't reduce the mortality rate from breast cancer.
I did read this:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mam...elines/AN02052
Specifically this part:
Mayo Clinic supports screening beginning at age 40 because screening mammograms can detect breast abnormalities early in women in their 40s. Findings from a large study in Sweden of women in their 40s who underwent screening mammograms showed a decrease in breast cancer deaths by 29 percent.
But mammogram screening isn't perfect. Another study concluded that despite more women being diagnosed with early breast cancer due to mammogram screening, the number of women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer hasn't decreased. The study suggested that some women with early breast cancer were diagnosed with cancer that may never have affected their health.
I'm putting this on here just to show you what I read. I fully expect it to be taken down because of copyright infringements.
Apr 23rd 2013, 12:52 am
#43
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I had a false positive in my mammogram. I was sent back for a more detailed mammogram then an ultrasound that showed all was OK.
I'd really rather go through that than chemo/mastectomy, especially given my previous experience with pre-cancerous cells and the fact that my grandmother is dying of bone cancer secondary to her breast cancer.
I'd really rather go through that than chemo/mastectomy, especially given my previous experience with pre-cancerous cells and the fact that my grandmother is dying of bone cancer secondary to her breast cancer.
Apr 23rd 2013, 1:08 am
#44
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I had a false positive in my mammogram. I was sent back for a more detailed mammogram then an ultrasound that showed all was OK.
I'd really rather go through that than chemo/mastectomy, especially given my previous experience with pre-cancerous cells and the fact that my grandmother is dying of bone cancer secondary to her breast cancer.
I'd really rather go through that than chemo/mastectomy, especially given my previous experience with pre-cancerous cells and the fact that my grandmother is dying of bone cancer secondary to her breast cancer.
Apr 23rd 2013, 1:31 am
#45
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Re: Question for the ladies - mammograms
I know of people that are deeply in debt (and they have medical insurance) that have had cancer. It's not just the chemo and operations - it's the 5 yrs after that with the abundance of pills they have to take.
My sister-in-law (UK) has never had an xray in her adult life. She has never been for a mammogram and will never go - her reason is the radiation. She won't take any pills or drugs. Had 3 kids without any drugs AND has had a bloody ROOT canal without Novocain
Anyway, thanks for the articles - very interesting and informative.