Multivitamins and Your risk
Headlines are designed to catch the eye and sensationalise. When looking at research results, it is important to understand how the results are presented.
You may have read about a recent study suggesting that taking multivitamins on a daily basis can increase your risk of getting breast cancer by 19%. Many women have contacted us asking if that means they have a 20% chance of getting breast cancer if they take multivitamins.
Closer examination of the results of the study in question showed that there was a difference in diagnoses between a large group of women over 10 years who said they did not take daily multivitamins, and a smaller group who said they did take multivitamins daily. The difference between the two groups was 19%. This is called a relative risk.
Expressed as an absolute risk, the same statistics say that over 10 years, 1 extra woman out of 1667 who took multivitamins on a daily basis would be diagnosed.
Increasingly a study or problem will be presented in an absolute way but the solution or outcome will be reported in a relative way to increase the perception of the results.
Manipulating study results should not undermine your choice or a health professional recommendation to take multivitamins or make choices regarding your health.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Should a mammogram be the only breast imaging option for women?
Often women are warned by their doctor or breast specialist against any breast cancer screening technology other than a mammogram on the basis that a mammogram is the only ‘proven’ breast cancer screening method. One reason a mammogram is the only proven breast cancer screening method is because there is very strong resistance to supporting clinical trials comparing other technologies. Safe Breast Imaging is actively seeking opportunities to participate in clinical trials and has an extensive database to contribute to such a trial.
Mammograms are a useful tool to identify suspicious masses at an early stage (up to 5cm). We are fortunate to have a free national breast cancer screening program in Australia (BreastScreen) for women over 40 and under 70 who have NO SYMPTOMS. However statistics show that nearly half of women specifically targeted for a free screening mammogram (50-69 years) choose not to have one.
More than a quarter of Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer are under 50. Premenopausal women (under 50ish) usually have dense breast tissue and a mammogram is less effective for this group.
While few women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, most women have breast symptoms that are not breast cancer. Women of all ages are increasingly seeking ways to proactively monitor and understand their general breast health beyond just looking for cancer. The MEM looking at the electrical properties of breast tissue, has been a beneficial breast health monitoring technology to many Australian women. The MEM identifies lumps, hormonal imbalance and early behavioural changes that may require further investigation.
When a mammogram is not a woman’s preferred breast imaging option and for women who are ineligible for a mammogram, we believe women deserve other options. This is why Safe Breast Imaging actively promotes worthwhile initiatives for you to proactively monitor and maintain your breast health.
A picture of your breast health will assist you and your health professional to make informed decisions about an effective strategy to manage your hormonal and breast health.
Mammograms are a useful tool to identify suspicious masses at an early stage (up to 5cm). We are fortunate to have a free national breast cancer screening program in Australia (BreastScreen) for women over 40 and under 70 who have NO SYMPTOMS. However statistics show that nearly half of women specifically targeted for a free screening mammogram (50-69 years) choose not to have one.
More than a quarter of Australian women diagnosed with breast cancer are under 50. Premenopausal women (under 50ish) usually have dense breast tissue and a mammogram is less effective for this group.
While few women in Australia are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, most women have breast symptoms that are not breast cancer. Women of all ages are increasingly seeking ways to proactively monitor and understand their general breast health beyond just looking for cancer. The MEM looking at the electrical properties of breast tissue, has been a beneficial breast health monitoring technology to many Australian women. The MEM identifies lumps, hormonal imbalance and early behavioural changes that may require further investigation.
When a mammogram is not a woman’s preferred breast imaging option and for women who are ineligible for a mammogram, we believe women deserve other options. This is why Safe Breast Imaging actively promotes worthwhile initiatives for you to proactively monitor and maintain your breast health.
A picture of your breast health will assist you and your health professional to make informed decisions about an effective strategy to manage your hormonal and breast health.
Multivitamins and Your Breast Cancer Risk
Headlines are designed to catch the eye and sensationalise. When looking at research results, it is important to understand how the results are presented.
You may have read about a recent study suggesting that taking multivitamins on a daily basis can increase your risk of getting breast cancer by 19%. Many women have contacted us asking if that means they have a 20% chance of getting breast cancer if they take multivitamins.
Closer examination of the results of the study in question showed that there was a difference in diagnoses between a large group of women over 10 years who said they did not take daily multivitamins, and a smaller group who said they did take multivitamins daily. The difference between the two groups was 19%. This is called a relative risk.
Expressed as an absolute risk, the same statistics say that over 10 years, 1 extra woman out of 1667 who took multivitamins on a daily basis would be diagnosed.
Increasingly a study or problem will be presented in an absolute way but the solution or outcome will be reported in a relative way to increase the perception of the results.
Manipulating study results should not undermine your choice or a health professional recommendation to take multivitamins or make choices regarding your health.
You may have read about a recent study suggesting that taking multivitamins on a daily basis can increase your risk of getting breast cancer by 19%. Many women have contacted us asking if that means they have a 20% chance of getting breast cancer if they take multivitamins.
Closer examination of the results of the study in question showed that there was a difference in diagnoses between a large group of women over 10 years who said they did not take daily multivitamins, and a smaller group who said they did take multivitamins daily. The difference between the two groups was 19%. This is called a relative risk.
Expressed as an absolute risk, the same statistics say that over 10 years, 1 extra woman out of 1667 who took multivitamins on a daily basis would be diagnosed.
Increasingly a study or problem will be presented in an absolute way but the solution or outcome will be reported in a relative way to increase the perception of the results.
Manipulating study results should not undermine your choice or a health professional recommendation to take multivitamins or make choices regarding your health.
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