Mammography Screening: Is it worth the harms?

Is it all it is sold to us as?  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago, my cancer was not found by screening mammography.  I found it with Accidental Breast Exam.  I rolled over in bed and felt something that did not belong in my body and after a few weeks, it was diagnosed as breast cancer.  Many women are diagnosed today with screening mammography because the media does such a good job of touting the expression, "Early Detection Saves Lives, Get Your Annual Mammogram!"  The masses have heard the message and few question the science behind it.  The National Breast Cancer Coalition educated me in 1999 and so I began to understand the true issues.  Mammography is not prevention.  Mammography is designed to find abnormal and cancerous cells which may or may not be dangerous.  Once you are diagnosed with a pre cancerous or cancerous condition, you will be treated regardless of the degree of danger your condition presents. And now, a researcher, Peter Gotsche, Director of the Independent Nordic Cochrane Collaboration, has published a book pointing to his research from more than a decade which clearly indicates that breast cancer screening in healthy populations creates more harmful results than helpful ones.  Thank you Dr. Gotsche for being brave enough to try to reveal reasons why we need to question all the assumptions made about breast cancer screening, mammography and early detection.  Your book is needed.

For the past 17 years, I have heard people say so many crazy things:

"Mammogram saved my life", and my response to this is..."I hope you live long and healthy and prosper, but you cannot say that mammogram saved your life until you know that you did not die of breast cancer or from any of the side effects that cancer treatment causes."

"If Mammogram saves one life, then it is worth it", and my response is... "Was it worth the 10 women who were harmed by the side effects to cancer treatment, what about the 2 women who died of complications from treatment?" How is one life worth more than the negative affects caused to exponentially more women?

Few are brave enough to talk to others and make them more aware of the real facts.  The National Breast Cancer Coalition is and you can learn more about them by visiting: 

Breast Cancer Deadline 2020

While you are there, sign the petition to the President asking for everyone to help us to end this disease.  Check out the 2011 Advocacy Summit where you can learn all the facts about breast cancer and better understand how we accomplish our mission.  Get your face on the clock and help support the movement to end the disease.

We need everyone and that means you!  Are you with us?