Real strategies for breast health, more! 💚

March 16, 2019

Let's talk about breast health...

A client emailed earlier this week:

"Hi Becky,

I’m going to see my gynecologist on Wednesday. How should I respond when she says that I need a mammogram? I haven’t had one since I started with you.

Thanks for the help!"

My Reply

"Well, first. All you need to say is you decline. You have the right to do that without any explanation.

However, the two points you want to make regarding declining mammogram are:

Over-diagnosis

Over-diagnosis as reported in the NEJM

Over-diagnosis of 1.3 million in 30 years

Promotion of tumor development via exposure to radiation:

Mammography X-rays are mutagenic to mammalian cells indicating they may increase the risk of breast cancer in those who are exposed to them

Radiation-induced breast cancers from mammography X-rays are potentially underestimated by a factor of four

"She might tell you mammography uses very low doses of radiation, but these have been found to be even more dangerous to breast cells."

Recent radiobiological studies have provided compelling evidence that low energy X-rays as used in mammography are approximately four times - but possibly as much as six times - more effective in causing mutational damage than higher energy X-rays

"You should add that you are taking proactive measures to prevent hormonal cancers; i.e., iodine, and you are more than welcome to give her my contact info if she wants to know more about that. I am attaching a brief article I wrote explaining the problems of iodine deficiency , including hormonal cancers."