By Dr. Bruce West
A screening test should be used when evidence shows that it prevents disease, prolongs life, and is not harmful to the patient. Annual mammograms for all women over age 40 do not fall into this category. They do not prevent disease, and their early detection of disease does not prolong life. They can be harmful-even causing cancer—because the female breast is highly susceptible to the cancer-causing effects of radiation. And the breasts of premenopausal women are even more susceptible to radiation damage-one more reason to forego mammograms until after menopause.
Mammograms very often miss serious cancers. And they often detect false positives, or “cancers” that are not really there-that is, spots that are not cancerous. Further, they often detect tiny cancers that would never be of consequence to the woman. Unfortunately there are no tests to determine which tiny cancers will develop into anything serious or life threatening.
Because of this, women who discover “spots” on their mammograms are routinely subjected to further, often invasive testing. And because even more advanced testing is often inconclusive, thousands more women are injured or maimed by therapies and surgeries for “cancers” found on a mammogram. Many of these are later proven non-cancerous by post-operative examination of the removed tissue. Some women even opt for a mastectomy based on a shadow or spot on their mammogram-fearing that it is or will become cancerous. For all these reasons, routine mammograms for all women over age 40 are problematic. And the latest findings and suggestions about cutting back on mammograms are well considered.
All the uproar over mammogram cutbacks is a national disgrace as groups jockey for a position that will provide them benefit. The mammogram, physician, and hospital groups stand to lose money. Politicians are doing what they always do-use a subject, about which they know nothing, to promote their agenda. And women’s groups, perhaps swayed by “expert medical opinion” may not understand that they are doing women a disservice by howling that their mammograms are being taken away.
In addition, no one knows how many false positives and tiny cancers (that would never develop) found on mammograms are thrown in the scientific database of breast cancer “cures.” Are the survival rates skewed by the false positives? Have we really improved the survival rates or are these numbers just skewed to look better because they include women who never had cancer in the first place?
It all gets murky. But one fact remains-the statistics about the effectiveness and safety of mammograms do not lie. They show that mammograms do little good with plenty of harm. And that is not the definition of an effective screening test. But what is a woman to do? What if you have a family history of breast cancer? What if you have already had breast cancer and you are desperate to prevent a recurrence?
Well naturally, taking care of yourself with a good diet, exercise, pure water, and proper supplements is paramount. There are also tests that are actually better than mammograms. Simple blood tests, which are routinely administered after a mastectomy to determine if any cancer is still present, should be the screening test of choice before any radical treatment. The best of these are tumor marker tested called Cancer Antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) and Cancer Antigen 27-29 (CA 27-29). When your doctor prescribes repeated mammograms, just ask him or her for a tumor marker test.
There are no cancer tests that are 100% accurate. But at least with this testing, the procedure is non-invasive and a clear yes or no answer is provided. If you are in the high-risk group for whatever reason, you can have a CA 15-3 every 3-4 months. If a positive turns up, you can back this test up with a mammogram, and then a biopsy if needed.
Breast Cancer and Estrogen
Every woman who is worried about breast cancer, or who is in a high-risk group, should have a test for excess estrogen (estradiol). Estrogen causes cancer, and high estrogen is the single most powerful predictor of cancer (especially breast cancer) recurrence in women who have already been treated for cancer.
Excess estrogen is normally swept up and excreted by your body’s detoxification mechanisms. These mechanisms are a
complicatedbiochemical system of toxin removal that involves the liver, digestive tract, kidneys, and more. And cruciferous vegetables such as kale, broccoli, brussels sprouts and others are critical to detoxification mechanisms-especially when related to the removal of excess estrogen.
If your estrogen is high or even high-normal, you need to take 4-6 Cruciferous Complete daily-probably for the rest of your life. This supplement, made from cruciferous vegetable concentrates by Standard Process, helps women to naturally excrete excess estrogen-a prime cause of female cancers including breast cancer. To order Cruciferous Complete contact Lynn (click here). Women with highest estrogen levels have 5 x the rate of breast cancer as those with normal estrogen levels. You can monitor your success by follow-up estrogen testing.
So be sure to use tumor marker blood tests, test your estrogen level, and treat with Cruciferous Complete if your levels are high or even high-normal. Eat a healthy Mediterranean diet that includes healthy oils like Blue Ice ™ High Vitamin Fermented Cod Liver Oil. Stay away from processed foods and all store bought oils and salad dressings. Avoid soy and anything deemed “low-fat,” “low-cholesterol,” “zero-fat,” or any other processed concoction that most medical organizations say is good for you.
Drink pure water, drink less alcohol, don’t smoke, and get plenty of exercise and sunshine. And always remember that whole food, phytonutrient, and phytochemical vitamins and supplements are your best ammunition to fight cancer. Over 15 years ago Newsweek (April 25, 1994) proclaimed on its cover, “Better Than Vitamins-Can Phytochemicals Prevent Cancer?” The article stated that “in the search for the magic pill, phytochemicals may be the best hope for stopping some of the most stubborn diseases, including cancer.” The latest research shows this to be true.
If you are overwhelmed and do not know how to proceed to fight or prevent cancer, drop me a line with a self-addressed, stamped (with two stamps) envelope and write CANCER. The address is Health Alert, 30 Ryan Court, #100, Monterey, CA 93940. Tell me briefly about your cancer, and I will see that you get the cancer-fighting information that you need.
And remember, when it comes to screening, proceed cautiously with mammograms, and be sure to use alternative, tumor market testing. Despite the uproar, the medical scientists who analyzed all the data and determined that we should use fewer mammograms deserve applause-they have done a great service to all women nationwide.
It’s good too read your blog again, i see some interesting updates here..