Why Mammography is NOT an Effective Breast Cancer Screen

The most devastating loss of life from breast cancer occurs between the ages of 30 to 50. Fortunately, today there are many options available to help detect breast cancer. Unfortunately, awareness of these options and their effectiveness in detecting breast cancer are woefully deficient.

In his recent book, Beyond Mammography, Dr. Len Saputo discusses the latest findings on the effectiveness and shortcomings of various breast cancer detection methods used today including mammography, clinical breast exams, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) and PET scans. He also explores the highly advanced but much maligned detection tool for breast cancer -- breast thermography.

Breast thermography, which involves using a heat-sensing scanner to detect variations in the temperature of breast tissue, has been around since the 1960's. Modern-day breast thermography boasts vastly improved technology and extensive scientific clinical research following 300,000 women tested with thermography. Combined with the successes in detecting breast cancer with greater accuracy than other methods, the technology is slowly gaining ground among more progressive practitioners.

Health officials recommend that all women over 40 get a mammogram every one to two years, yet there is no solid evidence that mammograms save lives, and the benefits of mammograms are controversial at best. Meanwhile, the health hazards of mammography have been well established. John Gofman, M.D., Ph.D. - a nuclear physicist and a medical doctor, and one of the leading experts in the world on the dangers of radiation - presents compelling evidence in his book, Radiation from Medical Procedures in the Pathogenesis of Cancer and Ischemic Heart Disease, that over 50 percent of the death-rate from cancer is in fact induced by x-rays.

Now consider the fact that the routine practice of taking four films of each breast annually results in approximately 1 rad (radiation absorbed dose) exposure, which is about 1,000 times greater than that from a chest x-ray.

Even the American Cancer Society lists high-dose radiation to the chest as a medium to high risk factor for developing cancer.

TIFM has the most advanced thermal breast imaging equipment in the US and over 10 years experience in interpretation. This technology can detect many disease processes adversely affecting the breast, including breast cancer. We believe it is an essential tool for assessing and managing breast health and wellness. Please call Beverly Osborn to set up your 30 minute, pain free examination.

Visit our website for more information about thermal imaging, and then contact us online or call our Patient Care Coordinator at 972.239.6317 x134 for a FREE phone consultation and to setup an appointment.