General Discussion

zazen

(2,978 posts)

29. I'm intimately familiar with similar harms from mammograms

Mon Feb 17, 2014, 09:50 PM

Feb 2014

I believe the doctors are doing this in good faith, but just ONE area in which they may be causing overdiagnosis (beyond those situations where the radiation of BRCA gene carriers may make things worse) is with women with dense breasts and connective tissue disease. Connective tissue disease may lead to a lot of calcifications that look like necrosis/DCIS, so too many biopsies are done. In this case, MRI is much better (according to my world-class oncologist). MRI and US may be much better for women with dense breasts in general.

I guess there's the issue of screening in general as leading to overdiagnosis vs the means of screening. I'm not going to get into that debate, but I do think the Komen, et al, push to have annual mammograms needs to be dialed back.

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Mammograms - DO IT! [View all] question everything Feb 2014 OP

No thanks... ohheckyeah Feb 2014 #1

OK. I've heard objections to ultraound and thermography but still, question everything Feb 2014 #6

I've done a lot of research but I don't claim to be an expert. ohheckyeah Feb 2014 #14

I'm intimately familiar with similar harms from mammograms zazen Feb 2014 #29

As somebody who was detected before 49 and whose tumor was caught very early on by mammogram and MRI Mass Feb 2014 #2

This is great! Glad that so far so good question everything Feb 2014 #8

I should be getting one soon shenmue Feb 2014 #3

The study was a long term (25 year) study of 90,000 people. Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #4

What if that "anecdotal data" includes you or a woman you love? question everything Feb 2014 #5

How would you suggest evaluating medical procedures? Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #7

By real observation. Probably a dream question everything Feb 2014 #9

I have no idea what "real observation" is that is not contained within Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #12

What if the woman who gets breast cancer ohheckyeah Feb 2014 #16

If you or a woman you love had a tiny cancer removed that was slow growing pnwmom Feb 2014 #32

There are questions about the design of this study. LisaL Feb 2014 #11

Good. Somebody should design and conduct an even better study. Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #13

No, but a good study will see whether better equipment makes a difference. Mass Feb 2014 #17

What is dishonest about it? It is a fact that the equipment that was in use at the time kcr Feb 2014 #36

Any long term study will have this quality. Warren Stupidity Feb 2014 #39

It depends on the study and what data is being used kcr Feb 2014 #40

I don't think any medical people are suggesting that mammograms be given up. pnwmom Feb 2014 #33

23andme tested me for $99 Sienna86 Feb 2014 #10

That's great! question everything Feb 2014 #22

And for those who choose to get a mammogram... Contrary1 Feb 2014 #15

Great advice! question everything Feb 2014 #23

My mother died last week of breast cancer Beaverhausen Feb 2014 #18

I am so sorry for your loss question everything Feb 2014 #24

Rec'd highly and babylonsister Feb 2014 #19

Looks like you beat it! This is great! question everything Feb 2014 #25

DCIS here! I agree with you! phylny Feb 2014 #20

Good luck! question everything Feb 2014 #27

I had my first mammogram ever recently RainDog Feb 2014 #21

Not to worry you but most women who get it have no family history... Phentex Feb 2014 #26

I've heard a similar story about a young woman question everything Feb 2014 #28

I'm getting my annual PasadenaTrudy Feb 2014 #30

If you're under 50 and without family history, many doctors no longer recommend it. pnwmom Feb 2014 #31

Mammograms aren't perfect but Cairycat Feb 2014 #34

Thank you for a first person story question everything Feb 2014 #37

OK! I had to cancel last Fridays appt. due to snow.. Walk away Feb 2014 #35

Good luck. And try to follow the advice of Contrary1, above #15 question everything Feb 2014 #38

Thank you for posting this Ruby the Liberal Feb 2014 #41

Glad it was caught on time question everything Feb 2014 #42