Amending Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines...

The Government Got It Right

November 24th, 2009

A change in the sensitivity of your breasts, other than pain, might be a symptom of menopause, but it also might be something more severe. It could be mastic breast tissue, cysts, breast disease, or even neuropathy related to multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia. It can also be a warning sign of breast cancer.

The new government recommendations on breast cancer screening were surprising to many doctors, but I happen to agree with them. The government is currently recommending against regular mammography tests for women aged 40 to 49. The guidelines also downplay the effectiveness of self-examinations and advise that women aged 50 to 74 years receive mammograms every other year.The change in early detection direction came from a U.S. Preventive Services Task Force comprised of a government panel of doctors and scientists. They concluded that early and frequent screenings by mammography often lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies without substantially improving a woman’s odds of survival.

I agree with these new guidelines. First, I have not been a fan of mammograms for some time. I find that mammograms are not nearly as effective in detection as some other tests, like MRI’s and ultrasounds. I also have found that even when I teach my patients how to complete a manual breast exam, they are less than effective.

I support the new guidelines because I think it will lead to better testing. The ultrasound is a better screening procedure that’s safer and easier and picks up things fast. I believe that women should receive ultrasounds every year as part of their routine medical exam, beginning at an early age. If needed, MRI or PET scans can detect lumps and bumps better than any mammogram ever could.

Dr. Eric Braverman

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

click here for map to Dr. Joe’s office 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Click Here To Read Study PLEASE PASS IT ON… risk-of-vertebrobasilar-stroke-and-chiropractic-care

[Via http://v.wordpress.com]

So much to take in over a year

Over the past year I have turned 40, been diagnosed with cervical cancer, have had radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which led to instantaneous menopause, which, in turn seems to be leading to a series of health changes, not the least of them being joint pain. The hot flashes I expected and so far they are relatively benign. The joint pain, however, came as quite a surprise. The symptoms came on very suddenly and migrated a little, but now the worst can be felt in my knees all day long and my hands in the morning and sometimes at night. My fingers feel swollen and my morning exercise consists of trying to make a fist. As for my knees, any type of stairs, whether going up or down, brings on varying degrees of discomfort through the day.

I remember the doctor saying that I would be able to continue my regular activities and that life would get back to normal. I guess I’m still waiting for this “normal” mode to make its reappearance. On the one hand, I feel this new thirst for life and want to live it to the fullest. Yet, physically, I feel 20 years older than I am chronologically, and don’t see how I can live it up and pursue activities that I dreamed of picking up again. Guitar, anyone?

What is normal life after cancer and sudden onset of menopause? If anyone out there is actually reading this, do you have an answer to that question?