Mammograms Are Not The Best For Early Breast Cancer Detection

October 23, 2009 by drhusbands · Leave a Comment

In spite of everything you hear to get mammograms for early breast cancer detection, that is not the best way. Period! Conventional screening methods for early breast and prostate cancer detection are very flawed and the following study confirms that. In fact, no matter what you may hear to the contrary, the fact is, since mammogram screenings give a cumulative dose of radiation to the breast, it has been argued that mammograms actually increase the risk of developing breast cancer.

A new analysis published in the October 21st issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) takes a tough and critical look at the fact that breast and prostate cancer rates have risen significantly with the use of conventional early screening methods in the last 20 years.

Here’s the authors’ summary of the article:

After 20 years of screening for breast and prostate cancer, several observations can be made. First, the incidence of these cancers increased after the introduction of screening but has never returned to pre-screening levels. Second, the increase in the relative fraction of early stage cancers has increased. Third, the incidence of regional cancers has not decreased at a commensurate rate. One possible explanation is that screening may be increasing the burden of low-risk cancers without significantly reducing the burden of more aggressively growing cancers and therefore not resulting in the anticipated reduction in cancer mortality. To reduce morbidity and mortality from prostate cancer and breast cancer, new approaches for screening, early detection, and prevention for both diseases should be considered. ¹

According to lead author, Dr. Laura Esserman, oncologist at the University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, better tools for widespread screening are needed. In response to the article, according to chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, Dr. Otis Brawley’s stated in the New York Times articled that: “…But I’m admitting that American medicine has overpromised when it comes to screening. The advantages to screening have been exaggerated.”

Critics of the articles findings may suggest that breast and prostate cancer detection rates have risen due to earlier and more widespread screening. However, the authors themselves debunk that suggestion. They surmise that if the current conventional screening methods helped, there would be an increase in the rate of early disease, but then a decrease in advanced disease. But the statistics show that the number of advanced cases of breast and prostate cancer has not decreased nearly as much as would be expected. In other words, conventional tests for early screening haven’t worked to decrease advanced cases of breast and prostate cancer.

There were marketing campaigns/promotions that ran for many years that communicated to the public that the combination of synthetic estrogens and progestin drugs decreased breast cancer, heart disease and bone loss. These campaigns/promotions were done even though studies since 1970’s indicated that they increased, not decreased, the risk for breast cancer, stroke and heart diseases. Finally, a large Womens Health Initiative study in 2002 confirmed that those drugs increased the risk for breast cancer, stroke, and heart disease. In addition, they also increased the risk for Alzheimer’s dementia! Likewise, I fear that a large study in the future will show many have gotten breast cancer from routine cumulative mammogram screenings. In my opinion, mammograms are simply a dangerous and archaic screening method that looks for a tumor large enough to see on x-ray.

So, what should you do for early breast cancer detection? If you follow my blog and/or read the articles in my newsletter, you are already are aware of the advanced, accurate, non-harmful, early screening and effective Functional Medicine treatment methods for breast cancer. If you haven’t read them, see the links to some of these articles below:

Functional Medicine Methods for Early Breast and Prostate Cancer Detection

Evidence-Based Effective Breast and Prostate Cancer Treatment

Multisystem Imbalances Predisposing Women to Breast Cancer and Weight Gain

Some Simple Evidence-Based Methods For Decreasing Your Breast Cancer Risk

The Importance of Detoxification In Breast Cancer Prevention

Stress and Adrenal Dysregulation Influences Underlying Pro-carcinogenic Processes

Adrenal Fatigue Often Overlooked For Developing Pro-Carcinogenic Associations

Dr Husbands is a Chiropractor, a Certified Clinical Nutritionist, an Anti-Aging Healthcare Practitioner and a Functional Medicine Doctor. For more information, visit http://www.drhusbands.com.

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