Breast Screening update

I've had a few inquiries since the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study was published in the British Medical Journal, my colleague and mentor Sat Dharam Kaur has shared the commentary on the study as well as her breast screening recommendations, please email :satdharamkaur@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the healthy breast ezine mailing list. 

I agree with her recommendations taking into consideration each persons own unique clinical history. If you are interested in having a baseline thermograph taken The Pear Tree is hosting a clinic on June 10th please inquire with: www.medthermonline.com for more information. 

From Dr. Kaur's Ezine: 

         If you didn't see it, the results of the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study were published in the British Medical Journal on Feb 10, 2014. This important study of almost 90,000 women ages 40-59 from across Canada revealed that the number of women who died from breast cancer was the same whether women received screening mammograms annually for 5 years or had annual physical breast exams alone. During the five-year screening period, 666 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in the women who were screened using mammography, while 524 were found in those receiving physical breast exams. Both groups received the usual medical treatment for breast cancer. Out of all of these women, 180 in the screening mammogram group and 171 of the women in the physical exam group died of breast cancer during the 25 year follow-up period. The conclusion - early detection through mammography did not reduce deaths due to breast cancer. So what are we to do?

Dr. Kaur's Guidelines for Screening

1. Women over 20 years of age should practice monthly breast self-exams

2. All women over 20 years of age and especially women with a family history of breast cancer should have an annual clinical breast exam

3. If you are over 20 and under 50, have an annual screening thermogram. Use mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and/or biopsy to explore any irregular thermogram results

4.  If you: a) have a strong family history of breast cancer; b) have been on the birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy for over 5 years; c) or have other increased risk factors - have an annual thermogram, ultrasound, MRI and clinical breast exam. Use mammography when necessary to confirm a diagnosis or if there is a lump.

5. If you are over 50, have an annual thermogram, clinical breast exam and use mammography, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy as needed if you discover a lump

Click here for more guidelines for breast cancer screening.