Mammograms Don't Reduce Breast Cancer Mortality

Breast cancer affects 1 in 7 women with rates rising every year. Mammograms are the current gold standard for breast cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately they are not as helpful as most women think. The Canadian and American Cancer Societies recommend that all women over 40 get yearly mammograms as a breast cancer screening. However, a number of experts and scientists have raised concerns about how accurate they really are at correctly identifying breast cancer and that the x-ray exposure and breast compression may actually do more harm than good. Another nail in the mammogram coffin came in the form of a very large and meticulous study done at the university of Toronto which found that mammograms had no affect on mortality for women between ages 40-59. The report also stated that mammograms over diagnose almost 1 in 3 lesions (30%) leading to unnecessary biopsies, stress and lost tax dollars.

While mammograms are still standard of care in almost ever country, Switzerland has stopped all screening mammograms since their medical review group found no benefits in the data. 
Something to also consider is that the yearly x-ray exposure may also increase the risk of breast cancer, the very thing thing that the screening is trying to identify. One mammogram can expose you to same radiation as 100's of x-ray tests. 


So what should a women do? 
1) Regular clinical (seeing your doctor) and self breast exams. Remember 80% of breast lumps are NON-cancerous. If you do feel a lump see ask your doctor to check it. An ultrasound is much safer way to assess lumps without x-ray exposure and breast compression. 
2) Eat a plant-based diet. Vegetarians have the lowest rates of all cancers
3) Consume a diet high in fibre and cruciferous veggies - they block the negative effects of estrogen

To read the full text study follow this link
http://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g366