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It's time for me to schedule my annual mamogram (I'm 45) and I am having second thoughts on it after reading several articles about if they do more harm than good. I am thinking about scheduling a thermography scan instead, however, I have history of breast cancer on my mom's side of the family (her cousins, and cousins children- I believe). I'm not sure if based on that, I am making a mistake. I had a pea sized mass removed in my 20s that was benign and have had follow ups with no issues. The idea of exposing myself to more radiation is daunting but I'm not confident in weighing the benefits/risks of it. I've been told I have very dense tissue and have had friends who swear by mamograms because they went through breast cancer themselves. Any thoughts on the subject?
Before my thyroid issues were confirmed, I sought treatment through acupuncture. They did a thermal scan as one of the first steps and after a few months of treatments with no improvements it was recommended I follow up with my PCP before continuing any more sessions. That was when I received my dx of thyroid cancer. Looking back at my thermal scan, my whole neck area was lit up in oranges and reds. I do believe in them and am wondering if that technique would be better as the initial screening. I've also ran across several articles about the increased risk of breast cancer for those with Hashimotos. It's like a roller coaster trying to decide the safest way to proceed.
I have also declined xrays at my routine dental cleanings. I'm not sure if it matters much but I just feel more comfortable saying "pass" on them since I'm not having any dental issues. Not sure if that's the smartest idea or not. I skipped the last ones and I know at my visit next month they will want to do the full panorama xray.
I don't care for my own paranoia but it's always in my head. Although, I continue to wear my cell phone on my hip which I've read the radiation released from the phones can cause bone loss. My mother just started conventional treatment for osteopenia so I wonder about my increased risk for that. (not crazy about the increased calcium and other drugs she will be starting either).
Trying to figure out which health scares are legit is quite tiring. It may be easier to invest in a big plastic bubble.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
The jury is still out on this one. For me personally I would not get the mammograms. We have a wonderful thermography place here in town that walked me through the process when I had a breast lump removed in 2015. She explained that it is a wonderful tool that will show them if anything is suspicous. Then they send you for the full mammogram and ultrasound if need be. As a society we are so afraid of cancer because it is rammed down our throats everywhere we turn. No wonder we develop it! Its easy to get paranoid in this day and age! Especially with family history.
And looking back, they got me so scared about my lump. Then the day surgery came the ultrasound Dr. couldn't find it to put the guide wire in. I swear he just guessed and I went through an unnecessary surgery. I also realize now that I was so magnesium deficient, my breasts were calcified.... anyway my rant is over. The thermographies are great at detectection from what I understand.
I actually just had mammogram and ultrasound a few weeks ago. UPMC is conducting a study whether ultrasound of the breasts in addition to mammograms should be recommended for women with dense breasts (heterogeneously dense or extremely dense). It is a three-year study and this is the first year. The technician I had told me that there was no more radiation from the 3D mammogram then from a microwave. She said that some early stage cancers are visible in mammograms but not ultrasounds, others are only visible in ultrasounds (since cancers show up white in mammograms, but so does dense breast tissue). I am glad I had both as last year's mammogram required a follow-up since they saw "something".
Please sign me up for the big plastic bubble, too. I am always having one health scare or another and it is exhausting!
I found a lump 2 weeks ago....both mammogram and ultrasound say irregular fluid collection in the soft tissue probably is caused by a hemotoma, but no cysts or solid masses are found......well call me crazy but there clearly is some sort of lump still there....Cipro I believe cut the size in half due to I guess the fluid dissipating? The surgeon thought he would just drain the rest and when he tried no fluid came out....so he wants to remove it and test it next week. Vanessa...that is crazy you had that happen, and your right it's scary as all heck.....my confusion is why nothing hard showed up on either tests, unless there was to much fluid in the beginning to show it.....it's all so weird to me. Anyway it is what it is and I need to move forward....fingers crossed. I suggest yearly mammograms for all or whatever test you choose, but choose one....you never know.
Another option would be to have the BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene tested to see if you have either one of those in your DNA. If you do then I would be pro-active with yearly mams...if not then I would consider every 3-5 or longer if doing self breast exams and then you would know when something isn't feeling right.
You are right we don't need the exposure to radiation any more than needed. I would get the pano on the mouth though, dental issues can make us very ill if not caught soon and taken care of.
I have a slight history of my grandma having breast cancer, but I am starting to link it to her having her gall bladder out and that resulting in BAM, depression, poor diet and probably MC that she didn't realize she had so I am sure her deficiencies were thru the roof. Plus she had very large breasts and back in the late 80's I'm not sure how often she had a really good mamo back in those days. I on the other hand was not endowed, and I had implants 13 years ago but under the muscle so if an when I decide to do mamos they are very softly attended to, lol.
Good luck in your decisions, you'll do what is right for you
To Succeed you have to Believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a Reality - Anita Roddick
Dx LC April 2012 had symptoms since Aug 2007
I'm a believer in the yearly mammo. My family does not have a history of cancer, but I've lost too many friends to cancer that I feel like I owe it to them and myself to do whatever I can to avoid that experience. It's a bitch!
Laura Turner
.........
"There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in". - Leonard Cohen. 1934-2016
I have virtually no chest at all. Actually, it's more like all chest and no cleavage, haha. I know that doesn't discount me from the possibility of breast cancer. It's difficult to decide which is the best option given all the different opinions.
It's nice to read other people's experiences.
Deb
"Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead, where there is no path, and leave a trail.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
2007 CC
2013 thyroid cancer- total thyroidectomy
2013 Hashimoto's - numbers always "normal"
2017 Lyme's Disease
