According to some recent statistics, less and less women are opting to get mammograms. It is being blamed on the recommendation that came out about one year ago, where it was recommended that women in their forties may not need to get yearly mammograms yet, and that women fifty and over may not need to get them every year, but rather should only be getting them once every two years.
Some argue that mammograms still can save lives, even if it’s not statistically a large amoung of women that are actually either saving their lives or saving their breast tissue from being excised by doing it earlier on.
While it is true that getting early diagnosis of breast cancer is important if the disease is to be treated successfully, some worry that getting mammograms unnecessarily may, in itself, be a carcinogen to the sensitive breast tissue that is so susceptible to becoming cancerous in the first place.
Let’s face it. Mammograms are not fun. I have never had one out of personal choice. I’m only 36 years old, but it was recommended that I get a mammogram yearly about one year ago because I have an aunt on my mother’s side who actually died of breast cancer.
It was my choice on a personal level because I had read about mammograms, and the radiation they put out, and that they may actually spur cancerous growth of cells in and of themselves. Do I believe my choice is right for every woman in my position? Absolutely not. I believe it is a personal judgement call.
It all depends on what you are swayed by, what catches your attention and what you believe and don’t believe. I personally had read enough to put doubt in my mind, but it doesn’t mean I would make this recommendation to other women.
There are some people who would adamantly disagree with me, and they have their right to whatever opinion they have formed based on their experiences and their knowledge and research. I definitely make sure I do self examinations here and there, and I’m very conscious of what I eat, working out and all the other lifestyle elements that can contribute to breast cancer. For me, that is peace of mind enough.
Once they come out with totally safe, non-radiation based methods for testing breast tissue, I just may jump on the bandwagon of going to the doctor for examinations again.
