A disconcerting article about mammograms and cancer

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Hilary the Touched
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A disconcerting article about mammograms and cancer

Post by Hilary the Touched » Wed Aug 19, 2009 12:05 pm

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/ ... 4447.story

"For years, breast cancer awareness campaigns have urged women over 40 to get a yearly mammogram. When women hesitate to comply, it's often to avoid the discomfort of having their breasts squeezed or the fear of getting called back for more tests, even if it turns out there's no cancer.

But screening poses another downside: A routine mammogram can find cancers that would never have become life-threatening, subjecting women to painful and toxic treatments they never actually needed."

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Marie
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Post by Marie » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:36 pm

It's called damned if you do and damned if you don't.......

Still I'd rather err on the side of treatment.

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Post by grannybear » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:06 pm

I've never found the tests that uncomfortable. It's over in no time.
I'm more afraid of the wrath of my oncologist if I don't go.

Gillian
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Post by Gillian » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:56 pm

I had a routine mammogram about three weeks ago. It wasn't that bad except for me pancaked boobs. Still ... better safe than sorry.

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Marie
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Post by Marie » Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:35 am

"OK now hold your breath" .... I can't breath - no worries!!!

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Post by fruitbat » Thu Aug 20, 2009 10:27 am

I've never had one, I'm 43. My check-up is due soon so my doctor might send me.

I've heard that it's more uncomfortable for the "smaller-boobed" woman; I am not looking forward to it! Image

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Helen8
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Post by Helen8 » Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:13 am

The newer models don't squeeze as much as the older ones did. So, if your breast health center is up-to-date, it won't be as bad.

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Marie
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Post by Marie » Thu Aug 20, 2009 4:25 pm

What Helen says is absolutely true - they are much better now. I'm going to place that even puts a warmed up foam pad on the machine to make it more comfortable. It's a piece of cake now. I can remember when I thought I'd leave the mamography center looking like my boobs had been run over by a truck.

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Post by Gillian » Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:04 pm

fruitbat wrote: I've heard that it's more uncomfortable for the "smaller-boobed" woman ...
*puts hand up*
That would be me. :roll:

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