Mammogram Dangers: Is Thermography a Better Alternative?
This year as my annual mammogram approached, I read some disturbing information regarding the risks of radiation exposure in Dr. Jonathan Wright’s newsletter, Nutrition and Healing.
“Each mammogram (which delivers 1 rad of ionizing radiation) increases risk of breast cancer by 1%. So if you follow the “expert” recommendation to get a mammogram every year after you turn 40, by the time you are 50, you’ll already have increased your chance of getting breast cancer by 10%."
Somehow, this fact escaped my attention and was never mentioned by any of my doctors. This risk is associated more with premenopausal women whose breasts are more sensitive to radiation. It’s not clear what the risks might be after menopause.
A review of mammography research published in 2006 concluded that though some lives would be saved by regular mammograms, other women would suffer needlessly. To put it more plainly, the study said that “out of 2,000 women screened over a 10 year period, one would have her life prolonged and 10 healthy women would be diagnosed and treated as breast cancer patients unnecessarily.” The study concluded that it was not clear if mammograms “did more harm that good,” and that all women should be informed of the risks. Do you remember having these risks explained to you?
Dr. Wright went on to recommend infrared thermography, which senses heat given off by the body and does not use radiation or require breast compression, which is painful and some fear may also cause a preexisting cancer to spread.
Thermography, it seems, looks promising but though it is FDA approved, there is still great variability in the imaging equipment and quality, how the image is taken and who reads it. While a mammogram detects anatomical changes in breast tissue (which show up as visible tumors), thermography shows functional changes—increased or decreased blood flow —which can indicate a precancerous condition.
Some say thermography gives information too early, when there is no appropriate treatment. Others say that detecting changes in the breast that may lead to breast cancer allows the patient to take proactive lifestyle measures to prevent progression to a cancerous state. But even Wright admits it’s too early to know if those lifestyle changes would reverse “risk associated changes” in the breast tissue. In addition, many of the thermography sites I checked said that this technology was an adjunct, not a replacement for mammograms. They are probably not covered by your insurance and the out-of- pocket expense ranges from $250-$500.
So what’s a woman to do? We have been encouraged by the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute and the Susan G. Komen for Cure foundation to wear our pink ribbons and submit to mammography for decades. Most of us have overestimated or been led to believe that mammograms are more helpful than they are, and many think they are preventive. (Which of course, they are not.)
The decision to have regular mammograms or to switch to or incorporate thermography is a very personal one that should be discussed with your physician. My gynecologist seemed to favor thermography and gave me a prescription that I could use either way. Though she mentioned that her colleagues would not approve. My new primary care doctor voiced concerns about the accuracy of thermography. But she also told she doesn’t get mammograms every year. (A study in British Columbia found no increase in mortality when women ages 50-79 received mammograms every two years instead of yearly.)
Where does that leave us? For me, the primary protection available seems to be prevention, not diagnosis. Whatever your choice of screening or lack thereof, it’s what you do every day that really impacts your chances of avoiding breast cancer. What you eat, how your sleep, how often you exercise, what supplements you take—these are the proactive steps you can take to keep breast cancer at bay. They’re also actions that promote health in general.
That’s what Dr. Christine Horner suggests in her book, Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner’s Program to Protect and Fight Against Breast Cancer (Basic Health, 2005). She made the following suggestions for preventive action, which could result in as much as a 75% reduction of risk for breast cancer:
1. Stay active. 30 minutes of brisk walking 3-5 times a week can reduce your risk of breast cancer 30-50%.
2. Eat plenty of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.
3. Eat whole grains rich with cancer-fighting antioxidants, trace minerals and plant lignans.
4. Include immune-boosting mushrooms in you regimen.
5. Drink or supplement with green tea.
6. Add the curry spice turmeric to your meals (or supplement with curcumin.)
7. Get plenty of healthy omega-3 fats, from an omega-3-rich supplement and by eating foods like salmon and flax seeds.
8. Get adequate vitamins and minerals, paying special attention to vitamin D.
9. Consider taking CoQ10 if you are over 35.
10. Include a source of iodine in your diet, such as kelp or wakame seaweed.
11. Avoid red meat. (Women who eat the most have a higher risk of breast cancer.)
12. Stop smoking.
13. Avoid alcohol.
14. Avoid hormone replacement therapy and birth control pills.
15. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
In addition to these recommendation, recent research supports the use of black cohosh, calcium and resveratrol for their protective effects on breast health.
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: The best way to protect yourelf from breast cancer is with proven strategies like like eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of antioxidants and other important nutrients, exercising, getting enough sleep and avoiding alcohol. Early diagnosis is important in treatment of breast cancer, but keep in mind that whatever your choice of screening or lack thereof, it’s what you do every day that has a real impact on your risk.
[...] and receive a result suggesting an increased risk for breast cancer could subject themselves to unnecessary tests and treatments. Conversely, those who find out that breast cancer is not coded in their genes may [...]