Safe alternatives to mammograms for annual breast cancer screening that do not involve radiation or painful breast compression.
I once asked my 91 year old Mother why she has never had a mammogram. My late Dad, a practicing MD for 40 years, supported my Mom in her decision.
Her answer startled me.
She told me that it made no sense to her to screen for breast cancer with a test that actually causes breast cancer!
What my Mom was referring to is the radiation from mammograms which is cumulative over time and can actually cause the very disease it is screening for!
If only our conventional medical community made decisions using this much common sense!
At my age, I should have had 10+ mammograms by now. However, I’ve chosen to follow my Mom’s advice by never having one.
This includes when I had a suspicious lump a few years back. What I opted for instead is discussed below.
One-Fifth of Breast Cancers Caused by Mammograms
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, the dirty little secret is that a single screening mammogram of both breasts exposes you to as much as 1,000 times the radiation of a single chest x-ray! (1)
If you find this shocking and hard to believe as I did, then research the facts for yourself.
Your doctor will most likely deny this vehemently, insisting the amount of radiation exposure is trivial.
Where have you heard that line before? From dentists about regular dental x-rays!
Don’t take a doctor’s word for it. Research both sides of the issue and come to your own conclusions.
Dr. Samuel Epstein MD, one of the world’s top cancer experts estimates that up to 20% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States annually are actually linked to the cumulative radiation effects of mammograms!
Another major problem with mammograms is the compression factor which serves to spread any breast cancer that may be present.
As early as 1928, physicians were warned to handle “cancerous breasts with care– for fear of accidentally disseminating cells” and spreading cancer (7). Nevertheless, mammography entails tight and often painful compression of the breast, particularly in premenopausal women. This may lead to distant and lethal spread of malignant cells by rupturing small blood vessels in or around small, as yet undetected breast cancers. (2)
Best Mammogram Alternatives
For those women seeking an alternative to the radiation of mammography, I suggest investigating two safe alternatives.
I’ve used both of these over the years.
Thermography
First is the option of thermography or thermogram.
This technology screens for the vascular changes associated with early breast cancer.
Read about my experience with thermography at the link if you’d like more details.
Breast Ultrasound
If the thermogram detects one or more suspicious areas, the next step is to get a breast ultrasound.
Unlike fetal ultrasound which is dangerous to babies risking hearing loss and speech delay among other issues, breast ultrasound is safe enough to use as a regular screening tool.
Read about the 7 benefits of breast ultrasound at the link, where I dive into the subject in-depth including my own experience getting one.
The problem is that mammography is such a racket that most doctors will not write you a script for an ultrasound without getting a mammogram first.
Why is this?
What is not widely known is that some physician groups get kickbacks for the mammograms they prescribe. Do they disclose this to their patients?
Almost never.
If you find yourself in this situation, the company Herscan will do a breast ultrasound for you without a prescription! The results will be examined by a licensed radiologist and you will get a report in the mail.
Simply go to their website, find when Herscan will be in your area, and book an appointment.
Will Insurance Cover It?
The biggest issue for most women is that mammogram alternatives aren’t covered by insurance.
Thus, you will need to be prepared to pay for thermography or a breast ultrasound out of pocket unless you have health-care sharing, which DOES cover it!
Read about my review of our family’s healthcare sharing experience at the link.
We switched about 10 years ago and will never go back to traditional health insurance. It is such a scam in so many ways.
It is Possible to Never Get a Mammogram!
The truth about mammograms as a significant contributor to breast cancer will gradually become more widely known.
Eventually, the tide of public opinion will force their removal as a breast cancer screening test.
Permanently!
When the reality of mammography madness finally makes the Evening News, make sure you aren’t one of the women who look back and regret not stopping sooner!
It is possible to never have a mammogram and still get the proper screening your health requires!
(1) Mercola versus the Medical Establishment
(2) Cancer-gate: How to Win the Losing Cancer War
(3) HerScan. How to Get a Breast Ultrasound without a Mammogram
When it comes to this critical health subject, I feel like a dog chasing my tail.
I am very much in the thermography and/or ultrasound camps and always will be.
Alas, every time I had a thermogram (on schedule, paid for out-of-pocket because insurance wouldn’t cover it), the reviewing doctor always strongly recommended in writing that I have a mammogram done, so off I went. I then tried to go the route of an ultrasound only, and my gynecologist at the time willingly did the order for one. I made my appointment, arrived at the imaging center and was fully checked in, only to be told that they refused to do breast ultrasounds before a mammogram because breast ultrasounds are unreliable. The radiologist finally agreed to do the ultrasound on the one breast that I have had a small cyst on for decades, but refused to check the other.
We eventually moved to a city in Texas … we have a wealth of doctors in this city, but finding a thermogram location within easy driving location (under 30 minutes) has been quite difficult. I found one, but the price was way beyond what I had paid in my previous state. So, for the last 7 years, I’ve succumbed to the original thermogram doctor’s recommendation that I need a mammogram anyway and have gone that route.
It’s discouraging, worrying, and exhausting … and very, very sad that these two beneficial diagnostic tools (thermogram and ultrasound) aren’t more readily accepted and covered by insurance.
In our area (Illinois) we cannot even PAY 100% out of pocket for JUST a breast ultrasound, w/out having a mammoscam first. The facilities themselves REFUSE to do a breast US, w/out a mammoscam first. It is sickening.. literally!
On the same token, we can’t get any facility (hospital, stand-alone, etc.) to do an US our our teen’s hip to rule out a possible tear in the labrum, even with orders from MULTIPLE doctors & specialists. MRIs are inconclusive & inaccurate. Has all the symptoms, but can’t get an US for ruling it out or confirming it. So deeply disturbing.
That is very disturbing. The medical establishment really wants women to get that toxic dose of radiation even in situations where it isn’t needed or will even help (the 50% of women with dense breasts, mammograms are useless). WHY???? We all know the answer. Women with breast cancer is BIG BUSINESS.