Naturalpath

Currently doctors relay on a triple level testing for breast health- breast examination, mammography with or without ultrasounography and biopsy.  There are a number of questionable factors in mammography.  First is the issue of false positives.  According to a New England Journal of Medicine study, published in 1998 on 4,319 women the rate of false positives for a woman 50 years old or older was 24% after five screenings and 47% after ten screenings for younger women the risks are 30% and 56%.

Secondly, there is has been a few different studies which show that while  mammograms have been able to detect breast cancers when the tumors were smaller, they have had no effect on the survival rates.   In fact, even the National Cancer Institute admits that monthly breast self examination following a brief training combined with annual clinical breast examination by a trained health care professional is at least as effective as mammography. 

And finally there is the issue of cumulative exposure, especially for women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer or whose lifestyles have increased their risk, such as having no children or not giving birth until after 30 years old, use of oral contraceptives, high breast density tissue, or confirmed hyperplasia.  Screening mammograms pose a risk , though by many accounts only small, of radiation-induced breast cancer.  This is especially true for the sub group of women who have increased risk.  The routine practice is to take 4 films of each breast annually which adds up to 1 rad of exposure.  This is approximately 1,000 times greater than the radiation from a chest x-ray.  And if you have a history of breast cancer the practice is to have a mammogram twice a year.  Interestingly, Dr. John Gofman, a nuclear physicist and medical doctor, believes that a high percentage of cancers today are x-ray induced.  You can read more about this in his book, Radiation from Medical Procedures in the Pathogenesis of Cancer and Ischemic Heart Disease.

The external pressure on women to have regular mammograms is strong. But considering the questionable benefits of mammogram versus the possible personal harm making a decision to not have a mammogram may be the better decisions with some individuals.  Luckily there are options on the horizon to offer a safe alternative to annual mammograms.

There is an easy saliva or urine test that measures your 2:16 Estrogen ratios and can help you determine your risk for several cancers of the reproductive system including breast, ovary, uterine and prostate. For a lower risk of these cancers you want more of the good 2 hydroxyestrone (2-0HE1)  and less of the bad 16 alpha hydroxyestrone (16 alpha-OHE1) which can damage chromosomes, overstimulate estrogen receptors and is carcinogenic.  If your ratio is out of balance you can take actions to bring them into a balance associated with reduced cancer risks.  Post menopausal women with breast cancer have been found to have a dramatic elevation of the 16 alpha- OHE1.  Increased levels of the good 2-OHE1 are associated with exercise, healthy hormone balance and the consumption of cruciferous vegetables and flax.  While the increase in 16alpha-OHE1 is associated with alcohol consumption, a high carbohydrate, high-fat diet and increase body mass.

There is a new test that has yet to come on the market that is picking 95% of cancers.  It involves scanning the blood for proteins that distinguish cancerous tissue from benign.  All that is needed is a single drop of blood from a finger stick.  In tests on several hundred blood samples, some from healthy women and some from women with ovarian cancer, the test proved an astounding 100% accuracy rate in detecting cancer even at the early stages. Trials are currently being conducted and it is hoped to have this test out on the market soon.

If you are a women with metastatic breast cancer you can get a blood test that may help you and your doctor make a more informed decisions regarding your treatment options.  The CellSearch System is a diagnostic test that captures, identifies and counts circulating tumor cells (CTCs).  CTC are cancer cells that have detached from solid tumors and entered the blood stream.  This can begin the process of metastasis, the most life threatening aspect of cancer.  Clinical studies have shown  the number of CTCs  in the blood as a indicator of decreased progression- free and overall survival rate. 

In thinking about your breast health realize that there are options.  Should you choose to not have annual mammogram it is imperative that you do a monthly self breast examinations and have an annual check up so that a trained health care professional can perform a breast exam.  And should you be in a high risk category you should consult with your health care practitioner about which option is the best for you.