Comments on: What You Need to Know About the Cost of Mammograms http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-of-mammo Daily dose of women's health news and media analysis Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Michaela http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-of-mammo/comment-page-1#comment-991 Michaela Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:32:07 +0000 http://ourbodies.s467.sureserver.com/blog/2008/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-of-mammograms#comment-991 Sorry, Dr Angela Raffles research showed 1000 women need to be tested for 35 years (not 15) to save ONE woman from cervical cancer.... Puts it all in perspective....don't you think? Not exactly the epidemic they'd have us believe.... Sorry, Dr Angela Raffles research showed 1000 women need to be tested for 35 years (not 15) to save ONE woman from cervical cancer….
Puts it all in perspective….don’t you think?
Not exactly the epidemic they’d have us believe….

]]> By: Michaela http://www.ourbodiesourblog.org/blog/2008/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-of-mammo/comment-page-1#comment-900 Michaela Thu, 15 Jan 2009 02:13:34 +0000 http://ourbodies.s467.sureserver.com/blog/2008/06/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-of-mammograms#comment-900 Cost is the last factor for me... I do my own research when it comes to "recommended exams" and cancer screening and have been shocked at the results. I believe women are largely kept in the dark and put through many unnecessary invasive procedures that can actually end up harming you... It is disrespectful and an abuse of our rights to hold back information that could enable us to make informed decisions about our health or to "require" unreliable tests for uncommon cancers that can harm us - the decision should rest with us. I think all women should look at the research by Dr Angela Raffle ( a cancer screening expert)...Did you know 1000 women need to be screened for cervical cancer for 15 years to save one woman? Did you know in a totally unscreened population, 1.7% of women would get cervical cancer and these women are invariably, high risk. Instead of targeting these women, all women are pressured or "required" to have these tests - this is not informed consent when you haven't been provided with risk information or are "required" to have the test to get birth control. Did you know the pap smear is an unreliable test? An unreliable test for an uncommon cancer means lots of false positives and some false negative. The follow up can mean colposcopy and biopsies - invasive, unpleasant and possibly harmful (mentally and physically) procedures. Pathologists have been sued for missing things, so the threat of litigation means more false positives - more women facing the anxiety and uncertainty of an inconclusive or abnormal result/false alarm. Absolute madness IMO..... Cervical screening IMO has helped a few and harmed thousands of women. I'd suggest you google Articles and research by Prof Michael Baum, a UK breast cancer specialist who has been brave enough to speak out about the harm being done to women - the powerful screening lobby and those with vested interests have been quick to attack... The facts however, are there for you to consider.... The evidence against mammograms is just as bad - breast cancer is more common...but research has shown that routine mammograms can increase the risk of getting breast cancer. The bruising of the breast tissue is one explanation....false positives mean unnecessary biopsies - also, screening has thrown up a real problem - the discovery of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) a slow growing cancer that rarely bothers a woman - many middle aged and older women have some DCIS - however, once biopsied, it can become invasive and aggressive - also, once discovered, what does the Dr do with the possibility of litigation ever-present? - she/he removes the lump or breast or orders some other treatment. Pelvic exams are often carried out routinely on US women - the evidence - they are unnecessary in asymptomatic women and in fact, can be harmful - yet many Drs persist/insist on them... There is also evidence to say routine breast exams are unnecessary as well and women should be taught by breast care nurses to examine their own breasts - some women may opt for an exam with a professional breast cancer specialist at age 45 or 50.... I think women now fear their bodies and live in dread of the next invasive procedure - it's totally unnecessary. Get informed and stand up for yourself - don't be afraid to say NO and/or change your Dr... Good luck everyone - I made an informed decision not to participate in cancer screening, nor do I permit unnecessary exams. I got to the facts, sought advice and examined my risk profile - it's the only way to survive the medical profession. It seems to me this is all about power and making money, nothing to do with womens health. Cost is the last factor for me…
I do my own research when it comes to “recommended exams” and cancer screening and have been shocked at the results.
I believe women are largely kept in the dark and put through many unnecessary invasive procedures that can actually end up harming you…
It is disrespectful and an abuse of our rights to hold back information that could enable us to make informed decisions about our health or to “require” unreliable tests for uncommon cancers that can harm us – the decision should rest with us.
I think all women should look at the research by Dr Angela Raffle ( a cancer screening expert)…Did you know 1000 women need to be screened for cervical cancer for 15 years to save one woman?
Did you know in a totally unscreened population, 1.7% of women would get cervical cancer and these women are invariably, high risk.
Instead of targeting these women, all women are pressured or “required” to have these tests – this is not informed consent when you haven’t been provided with risk information or are “required” to have the test to get birth control.
Did you know the pap smear is an unreliable test?
An unreliable test for an uncommon cancer means lots of false positives and some false negative. The follow up can mean colposcopy and biopsies – invasive, unpleasant and possibly harmful (mentally and physically) procedures.
Pathologists have been sued for missing things, so the threat of litigation means more false positives – more women facing the anxiety and uncertainty of an inconclusive or abnormal result/false alarm.
Absolute madness IMO…..
Cervical screening IMO has helped a few and harmed thousands of women.
I’d suggest you google Articles and research by Prof Michael Baum, a UK breast cancer specialist who has been brave enough to speak out about the harm being done to women – the powerful screening lobby and those with vested interests have been quick to attack…
The facts however, are there for you to consider….

The evidence against mammograms is just as bad – breast cancer is more common…but research has shown that routine mammograms can increase the risk of getting breast cancer. The bruising of the breast tissue is one explanation….false positives mean unnecessary biopsies – also, screening has thrown up a real problem – the discovery of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) a slow growing cancer that rarely bothers a woman – many middle aged and older women have some DCIS – however, once biopsied, it can become invasive and aggressive – also, once discovered, what does the Dr do with the possibility of litigation ever-present? – she/he removes the lump or breast or orders some other treatment.
Pelvic exams are often carried out routinely on US women – the evidence – they are unnecessary in asymptomatic women and in fact, can be harmful – yet many Drs persist/insist on them…
There is also evidence to say routine breast exams are unnecessary as well and women should be taught by breast care nurses to examine their own breasts – some women may opt for an exam with a professional breast cancer specialist at age 45 or 50….
I think women now fear their bodies and live in dread of the next invasive procedure – it’s totally unnecessary.
Get informed and stand up for yourself – don’t be afraid to say NO and/or change your Dr…
Good luck everyone – I made an informed decision not to participate in cancer screening, nor do I permit unnecessary exams. I got to the facts, sought advice and examined my risk profile – it’s the only way to survive the medical profession.
It seems to me this is all about power and making money, nothing to do with womens health.

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