WYNNEWOOD, PA -- Since the news broke last week that most females should wait until age 50 to get mammograms, women have been trying to sort out conflicting advice about when to begin breast cancer screenings. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, made up of expert independent doctors and researchers from prestigious university medical institutions and comprehensive cancer centers, the scientific evidence has proven that most women do not need routine mammograms in their 40s and should get them only every two years starting at age 50.
In a break with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position endorsing regular mammograms starting at age 40, the panel of doctors and scientists concluded that such early and frequent screenings often lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies, without substantially improving women's odds of survival. Because of greater breast density, mammograms in the 40-49 year age group tend to produce both false positive and false negative readings. This causes doctors not only to miss breast lumps, but especially to overcall them which can lead to unnecessary irradiation, biopsies, and anxiety that potentially have undesirable cumulative effects.
According to Dr. Susan Silberstein, PhD, Executive Director of the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education, "There are three reasons women ought to let go of the malaise over to screen or not to screen." Explained Silberstein, "First, the task force neither sets federal policy nor determines what services are covered by the government or by insurance companies. Women should talk to their doctors about their individual history and risk factors and make the decision that is right for them."
"Second," elaborated Silberstein, "If women do want to get screenings, thermography (infrared breast imaging) is an excellent screening tool that is safer and more efficient than mammography for early detection of breast disease." Thermograms (heat pattern photos) are non-invasive, painless (there is no compression) and radiation-free (radiation is a risk factor for breast cancer). They are over 97% accurate in the early detection of breast cancer, and there are over 800 peer-reviewed studies about the effectiveness of thermography, which has been FDA approved since 1982.
"Finally, and most importantly," Silberstein added, "Early detection is not your best protection at any age. It's better than late detection, but it is not the same as true prevention. There is a significant body of scientific evidence that diet and lifestyle choices dramatically influence risk for breast cancer."
The World Health Organization states in its 2002 report on "Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases" that obesity increases breast cancer risk by around 50%, The National Cancer Institute estimates that breast cancer deaths avoidable through dietary change run as high as 70%. In "The China Study" (2006) lead researcher Dr. T. Colin Campbell states, "animal-based food are strongly linked to breast cancer."
According to Silberstein, dietary choices can affect risk for breast cancer by influencing genetic expression, estrogen levels and immune function. Whether a woman is at high risk as a known gene-carrier or whether she is only at moderate risk (nearly one in seven of all US women will be diagnosed with breast cancer), wise food choices can help improve the odds in her favor. Besides decreasing alcohol and intake of animal based foods, the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education recommends introducing or increasing the following:
* Olive Oil - suppresses the action of a breast cancer oncogene up to 70% (Annals of Oncology 2005)
* Beans /Lentils - 2-4 servings a week decrease risk by 25% (International Journal of Cancer 2005)
* Cabbage/Broccoli/Cauliflower - influence estradiol metabolism (Anticancer Research 1995)
* Ground Flaxseeds - bind up estrogen, boost immunity, neutralize bad fats (Cancer Letters 1991)
* Green Tea - suppresses tumor blood supply (Cancer Letters 1994, International J of Cancer 2003)
For more about the scientific data or for individualized coaching on diet and lifestyle factors that Silberstein says "empower women with their most valuable prevention tool," contact the Center for Advancement in Cancer Education at 888-551-2223, or visit www.BeatCancer.org, www.BreastCancerDiet.org, and www.BeatBreastCancerKit.com.
SOURCE: healthnewsdigest
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