Breast cancer is second to lung cancer
as the leading cause of cancer deaths amongst women. In 2008, it is
estimated that 182,460 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer with
an estimated death toll being close to 40,480. It seems as if a good
percentage of these deaths should not be occurring. Why? Because many
of them seem to be caused by the very thing that is suppose to protect
them, mammograms. With billions of dollars being donated towards prevention
and research, we can’t help but scratch our heads and wonder why organizations
such as The National Cancer Institute (NCI) and The American Cancer
Society (ACS) continue to assure the public of the safety of mammography
when there are so many studies that clearly show not only how dangerous
they are, but also how unreliable their results are. Isn’t it time that
these organizations and the overall industry take a step back and look
at what is going on? Shouldn’t alternative methods be given a chance,
or at least more money for their research? Or is it that government
connections and pharmaceutical corporate profits are more important
than making sure a safe and reliable product is provided to consumers
that will not harm them or cause them to catch the very disease they
are trying to avoid.
What Is A Mammogram
The industry standard for the early detection of breast cancer is mammography.
A mammogram is a type of imaging system that entails using a low dose
ionizing x-ray to take a picture of the breast. That image is then analyzed
to see if there is any unusual tumor growth. This procedure is beginning
to receive lots of opposition because it has been shown to be inaccurate
with high false negative rates; dangerous because with each test done,
the chances of creating breast cancer are increased due to the radiation
from the x-ray; and it has lead women to undertake unnecessary and extremely
dangerous biopsies and surgeries.
Radiation From Mammograms Lead To Cancer
The bottom line is that mammograms help cause cancer. Every year, millions
of women are advised to get a mammogram without any warning whatsoever
of the hazards of being exposed to its cancer causing x-rays. What’s
even worse is that woman are being brainwashed into believing that a
yearly mammography is necessary. However, studies have shown that taking
a mammogram on an annual basis may in fact increase your risk of developing
cancer. Much like fetal tissue, the breast is an area of the body extremely
sensitive to radiation exposure. Here are just a few studies that have
alerted us to the dangers of mammograms.
For almost 100 years, doctors have been warned that a cancerous breast
must be handled with care for fear of accidentally spreading or metastasizing
a growth that is already present. Mammography basically ignores that
warning. A mammogram includes the process of painfully and tightly compressing
the breast in order to attain a “better” image, that pressure upon the
breast has the potential to rupture blood vessels in or near an unknown
breast cancer growth thus causing the spread of cells that are malignant.
Radiation expert and nuclear physicist, Dr. John Gofman, concluded
in his book that medical radiation was not only responsible for 60%
of all general cases of cancer but that it was the cause for 83% of
all breast cancer cases.
For a percentage of women who are silent carriers of the ataxia-telangiectasia
gene, their risk of developing cancer from a mammogram test is increased
by 4 times. Because of this A-T gene, these women are extremely sensitive
to the negative effects of carcinogenic radiation. It is estimated that
this is responsible for at least ten thousand breast cancer cases per
year. Also, research has shown that another gene named oncogene AC is
extremely sensitive to even minimal radiation doses. Women with this
gene are at a higher risk of developing cancer when receiving a mammogram.
According to a leading medical journal, The Lancet, since the start
of mammograms, the occurrence of Ductal Carcinoma In Situ breast cancer
has realized a 328% increase, and in women under the age of 40, that
increase was more that 3000%. This accounts for approximately 40,000
breast cancer cases per year.
Russell L. Blaylock, MD, estimates that receiving a mammogram on an
annual basis will result in an increased risk of breast cancer by 2%.
Over a 5 year period that equates to a 10% risk and after 10 years you
would be at risk by 20%.
With negative results such as these, and these are just a few of many
other studies, is there any reason why this industry should continue
at this pace? The industry would like us to believe that the risks far
outweigh the dangers, but why would anyone consider taking those risks
when there are other safer alternatives. Yes, on “occasion” there are
cases when a medical x-ray must be used, but to do so on a regular basis
makes no sense at all and should be considered malpractice.
Safer and Better Alternatives To Mammograms
First and foremost, we must avoid all forms of medical radiation. They
are damaging to our health. Prevention is also very important and must
be thought of. Research has found that something as simple as supplementing
with Vitamin D can slash the risk of cancers by 77%. Vitamin D can be
attained by natural exposure to sunshine (don’t use sunscreens) as well
as cod liver oil. Another product that helps in the fight against developing
breast cancer is flax oil, flax lignans and flax meal. Your lifestyle
must be closely monitored. If you are diagnosed with cancer, a change
in lifestyle is the only factor that has been scientifically proven
to extend the average lifespan of women with breast cancer. That positive
change in lifestyle helps to boost the immune system and stops feeding
cancer cells. You must stop feeding those cancer cells what they thrive
on, including all dairy products (even fat-free), beef, pork, lamb,
veal, all sugars, all processed foods, flour, alcohol and tobacco. Of
course, it's best to avoid these foods prior to being diagnosed with
the disease. This subject of prevention maintenance alone consists of
enough information for another article.
In regards to methods of testing for early detection, there are several
alternative options to mammography. Unfortunately, our medical institutions
and the large organizations dedicated to fighting breast cancer are
not doing their part to educate the general public on these safer, more
effective alternatives.
Aside from self-examination techniques and physical exams by a doctor,
one such excellent alternative is breast thermography. Thermography
is a noninvasive method that does not require radiation, any painful
compression, or intravenous injection. Thermography uses digital infrared
imaging to measure the temperature differences within the breast. Not
only is Thermography safer, but it appears to be much more accurate
than mammograms. Although Thermograpy has been around since the 60’s,
it wasn’t until 1982 when the FDA had approved them and they became
more reliable. For more information about Thermogrophy, visit BreastThermogrophy.com
and International
Academy of Thermology.
Another better alternative to mammograms are MRI’s (Magnetic resonance
imaging). This method is far more superior to mammograms in the early
detection of breast cancer. But I find it rather strange that something
so superior and safer is considered to be useful only after undergoing
a dangerous mammogram or biopsy. Even The
American Cancer Society admits that MRI’s are superior yet they
choose to reserve if for higher risk scenarios. They claim that it’s
more expensive thus not as readily covered by most insurance plans.
Hmm, with all that money being raised for research and free mammograms,
wouldn’t you think that a big chunk of that would be better spent on
safer alternatives such as MRI’s and Thermography?
Always remember that information is power and that you must do all
that you can to seek out that information so that you can be intelligently
informed before making a decision that may negatively affect your health.
We should never accept that one person or a major organization has the
final say in how we should be diagnosed or treated. Settling on the
status quo and accepting procedures and medicines that are doing more
harm than good is unacceptable and we must do what we can to encourage
the healthcare industry to research better methods and accept the safer
alternatives that currently exist!