By Dr. Samantha Ristimaki, BSc, ND of Balance Wellness Center

On November 17, 2009, a US Preventative Services Task Force put forth a recommendation that women start regular mammograms at 50, as opposed to 40 and that women over 50 receive screenings every 2 years as opposed to every year.  The task force also recommended that doctors begin teaching their patients how to do regular self breast examinations.  The change is based upon the concern that there are far more false positive results in women at 40-49 which cause women unnecessary stress.

The task force’s recommendation has unleashed a lot of opposition from oncologists, patient advocacy groups and women in general.  Some people suggest that the task force’s recommendation is driven by cost savings as these tests are quite expensive.  Moreover, some have even questioned why there were no breast cancer specialists on the panel.

Regardless of the political controversy, women should be aware that this may actually be a positive development as it sets the stage for patient education regarding the risk factors associated with mammograms and the available alternatives.

Pain is not the only problem with squeezing your breasts to a flat pancake

Did you know?

Patients are exposed to 1 RAD of radiation per test (1000 times more than a single x-ray!)

Each mammogram increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 1-2 percent and this effect is cumulative

Compression of the breast tissue may rupture blood vessels around undetected tumors and may cause cancerous cells to spread prematurely throughout the body

What do I do if I’m under 40?

If you are under 40 and are concerned that you are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, there are other screening tools available.

Mammograms do not detect all types of tumors and women with dense breast tissue may have difficulty getting accurate results.  Ultrasounds are used as an additional screening tool.

Thermography, a screening tool widely used in Europe, is gaining popularity in North America.  Tumor cells need a rich supply of blood to grow, thermography detects the heat this extra blood supply creates and can help identify tumors long before a mammogram.  It is not perfect and is by no means a fool proof method, however, it is safe for women under age 50.

Although a Canadian task force suggested that self breast exams are not the most reliable screening tool, they are recommended by the Canadian Cancer Society.  Self awareness is still a very useful tool to understand your body’s function as at least 90% of women discover breast carcinomas themselves.