To Mammogram, or Not to Mammogram?; That is the Question

It's not all about the PINK.  But when you see pink, especially in the shape of a ribbon, I imagine it would be hard to find someone who doesn't know what it represents.  Promotional? Absolutely.  And it got the nation's attention...but it has caused some debate.

"To mammogram, or not to mammogram?"; that is the question.

Mammograms are not about the prevention of breast cancer; they are all about providing a means in which to detect it.  And detecting it early gives women a better chance of successful treatment.  Though not all women will have a winning outcome.  So let me say, mammograms do not equal survival.

What a mammogram can do is find abnormalities in breast tissue.  Cancers behave in a variety of ways and their patterns, often times, cannot be predicted.  Not all abnormalities are cancer but without proper diagnosis we, simply, would not know what is normal and what isn't.

There is much controversy over mammograms.  The main argument being they subject women to unnecessary risk.  Do the benefits outweigh the risks?  Women need to put that into a perspective they are comfortable with.

Some alternatives to mammography:

• Self-breast exams (SBE).  While self-examination is good, a clinical exam should also be performed.  The National Cancer Institute defines it as "A physical exam of the breast performed by a health care provider to check for lumps or other changes.  Also called CBE."
• Ultrasound of the breasts
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
• Thermography

All across the headlines, specifically in 'Pinktober', are "studies-show..." viewpoints and there will be issues with those too.  It is ultimately up to each woman to decide how, or if, to choose a method that is right for her.

Discuss the risks and benefits of the screening options with your doctor and together you can make an informed decision.  Remember, these are guidelines, a plan of action to promote the health of your breasts.

While it is important to know the risks to any procedure you have done, it is also important to know if you are in the high-risk percentage of developing breast cancer.  Being at a higher risk may influence how thorough, vigilant, and aggressive you wish to be.

"To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

And by opposing end them?"  -- William Shakespeare