Mammograms cause breast cancer (and other cancer facts you probably never knew)

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Mammograms cause breast cancer (and other cancer facts you probably never knew)http://www.newstarget.com/010886.html Print Link RelatedPage 1 | next page ->Posted Aug 15, 2005 PT by Dawn Prate Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among American women between the ages of 44 and 55. Dr. Gofinan, in his book, Preventing Breast Cancer, cites this startling statistic along with an in-depth look at mammographic screening, an early-detection practice that agencies like the American Cancer Society recommend to women of all age groups. According to most health experts, catching a tumor in its early stages increases a woman's chances of survival by at least 17 percent. The most common method for early detection is mammography. A mammogram is an X-ray picture of your breast that can reveal tumor growths otherwise undetectable in a physical exam. Like all x-rays, mammograms use doses of ionizing radiation to create this image. Radiologists then analyze the image for any abnormal growths. Despite continuous improvements and innovations, mammography has garnered a sizable opposition in the medical community because of an error rate that is still high and the amount of harmful radiation used in the procedure. Effectiveness of MammographyIs mammography an effective tool for detecting tumors? Some critics say no. In a Swedish study of 60,000 women, 70 percent of the mammographically detected tumors weren't tumors at all. These "false positives" aren't just financial and emotional strains, they may also lead to many unnecessary and invasive biopsies. In fact, 70 to 80 percent of all positive mammograms do not, upon biopsy, show any presence of cancer. At the same time, mammograms also have a high rate of missed tumors, or "false negatives." Dr. Samuel S. Epstein, in his book, The Politics Of Cancer, claims that in women ages 40 to 49, one in four instances of cancer is missed at each mammography. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) puts the false negative rate even higher at 40 percent among women ages 40-49. National Institutes of Health spokespeople also admit that mammograms miss 10 percent of malignant tumors in women over 50. Researchers have found that breast tissue is denser among younger women, making it difficult to detect tumors. For this reason, false negatives are twice as likely to occur in premenopausal mammograms. Radiation RisksMany critics of mammography cite the hazardous health effects of radiation. In 1976, the controversy over radiation and mammography reached a saturation point. At that time mammographic technology delivered five to 10 rads (radiation-absorbed doses) per screening, as compared to 1 rad in current screening methods. In women between the ages of 35 and 50, each rad of exposure increased the risk of breast cancer by one percent, according to Dr. Frank Rauscher, then-director of the NCI. continues on page 2 -> Beat the bird flu virus with FREE report: download Beat the Bird Flu Virus and Survive the Pandemic Related articles and resources: The Health Intelligence Files: little-known secrets for preventing and reversing chronic diseaseExclusive, members-only access to an entire library of downloadable ebooks and reports that reveal pioneering natural strategies for preventing and beating every major chronic disease now ravaging society. The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D: an exclusive interview with Dr. Michael HolickIn this interview, Dr. Holick reveals fascinating facts on how vitamin D is created and used in the human body to ward off chronic diseases like cancer, osteoporosis, mental disorders and more. Sunlight emerging as proven treatment for breast cancer, prostate cancer and other cancersIs the American Cancer Society more interested in cancer profit than cancer prevention?DHEA as cancer fighterBeating cancer -- how to take charge of your cancer cure and outlive the lies of the cancer industryCancer Industry Spreads Fear and Disinformation To Scare People Away From Learning About Alternative Treatments for Cancer on the InternetSpirulina shown to prevent and treat cancers while boosting immune system functionThe American Cancer Society's Guide to CAMNote: the above resources are 100% non-paid. They are provided solely for the benefit of readers.