1
Many aggressive cancers are detected clinically between screenings because of rapid growth, making screening superfluous. Some very aggressive cancers, even though detected by screening, are so invasive and aggressive that any form of treatment proves futile.
The Solution, Cancer Prevention With Iodine Supplementation
The discovery of a large reservoir of silent disease is a wake-up call that something is dreadfully wrong. Rather than screen the population for small calcifications, called DCIS, generating massive numbers of lucrative procedures with biopsies and lumpectomies that have little impact on overall mortality, I suggest a better approach.
The evidence is overwhelming that Iodine deficiency causes breast cancer, and Iodine supplementation prevents and treats breast cancer. Iodine supplementation is a less expensive and more effective alternative to the runaway train called mammogram screening. Iodine tablets are available OTC on the internet without a prescription.
For more information on screening mammography see my recent article:
Rethink Pink October Breast Cancer Mammogram by Jeffrey Dach MD
Radiation Exposure Causes BreastCancer
Another frequently overlooked problem with screening mammography is the radiation exposure. Radiation is a known carcinogen, and exposing breast tissue to radiation causes breast cancer. Dr Berrington's paper in the 2005 issue of BJC estimated that radiation exposure from screening mammography causes one death for every 2000 women screened. This number is virtually identical to the numbers cited by the US Task Force for lives saved. The US Preventive Task Force estimated that 1,900 women in their 40's would be exposed to 10 years of radiation from mammograms to save one life. This survival benefit equals the mortality from radiation exposure.
Harm From Over-Diagnosis and Unnecessary Biopsies
How do we measure the harm resulting from missed diagnosis, over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment arising from screening mammography? In a BMJ editorial, Dr Gilbert Welch says the following:
One in 1,000 women annually screened for 10 years will avoid dying from breast cancer.
Two to 10 women will be over-diagnosed and treated needlessly.
Ten to 15 women will be told they have breast cancer earlier than they would otherwise have been told, but this will not affect their prognosis.
One Hundred to 500 women will have at least one "false alarm" (about half of these women will undergo a biopsy).
For References and Links see Original Article Here.
Author-Jeffrey Dach MD is a Board Certified Diagnostic Radiologist with 25 years reading mammograms.
Disclaimer: The reader is advised to discuss the comments on these pages with his/her personal physicians and to only act upon the advice of his/her personal physician. Also note that concerning an answer which appears as an electronically posted question, I am NOT creating a physician -- patient relationship. Although identities will remain confidential as much as possible, as I can not control the media, I can not take responsibility for any breaches of confidentiality that may occur.
1 | 2
