What if you dont have a mammogram?

Recently there has been media cover in Australia warning women not to partake in any other breast screening apart from mammogram, as mammograms are the only “proven” technology for breast cancer screening. How do you feel about that?
Three questions to think about:
1. Is a mammogram suitable for every woman?
2. Will a mammogram find every cancer?
3. Does a mammogram give you enough information?

What do you do if you are too young for a mammogram? Or are pregnant? Or breastfeeding?
What do you do if you will not have a mammogram?
How do you feel to be told not to do anything else?
What do you do if you want to monitor your breast health and look for early changes within the breast?
What do you do if your mammogram result is negative but you feel something is not right?
Are you compromising your right to your own health decisions?

Dr Gilbert Welch of Dartmouth Institute says scientists have come to understand that breast cancer isn't one disease but many. Some tumours are indolent and never cause trouble. Others grow slowly and may eventually spread. The most aggressive cancers metastasize before doctors and patients even know they're there. Doctors can't tell which tumours are harmless so they treat all of them as if they were the worst kind.

“Screening tests like mammograms and self-exams are most adept at finding the indolent cancers”, Welch says. “As a result, the more we screen, the more women we subject to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation for cancers that never would have harmed them. A paper published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine estimated that for every life saved by a screening mammogram, five to 15 other women needlessly became diagnosed and treated”. http://nyti.ms/cUD6ZK

At Safe Breast Imaging we are receiving three messages from you loud and clear:
1. You are concerned about your breasts.
2. You do not want breast cancer and will do all you can to keep healthy. You are taking action to put prevention strategies in place and you are not passively waiting for a cancer diagnosis.
3. You want to use all the tools available to give you the best chance of getting a good picture of what is going on so you can make an informed breast management decision. After all, breast cancer is very difficult to find, no matter what the technology.

What can we do?
We know you are busy, have the best intention of having imaging done and know your diet and lifestyle could be better.
How can we understand and respond to your needs?
How can we cut through your fear?
Your inaction?
Your busyness?
Your justifications?

What can you do?
• Make a decision to be responsible for your own health.
• Tell us what results and information would be useful for you to encourage action to improve your health.
• Act responsibly upon any change to your health – have early investigation without delay.
• Tell your doctor and health professional you also want imaging to check your breast health.
• Tell your family, friends and colleagues that they can now also monitor their breast health.

Imaging your breasts in a new way
Safe Breast Imaging uses the unique MEM imaging technique that has been used in Australia for 5 years. The MEM maps the electrical properties of breast tissue. It is not an x-ray (no radiation), not thermography (not heat), not ultrasound. The MEM maps your lumps and breast structure. In addition the MEM also highlights asymmetry, glandular tissue, hormonal imbalance and other factors that may increase your risk into the future. Watch the procedure here: http://bit.ly/avod2H.

Our Safe Breast Imaging doctor, who reads and interprets the MEM images, expects to see normal patterns and some symmetry. Subtle differences from one side to the other are identified, which can indicate anomalies. Most are explainable and don’t require additional testing. Results have shown that women who have abnormal MEM images are at a higher risk of developing hormonal dis-eases. You are actively encouraged to improve your breast health in conjunction with your health practitioner.

At Safe Breast Imaging we indicate your current breast health status. It is your starting point. Please do not necessarily assume that because you have symptoms you have breast cancer. There are many options you have to improve your current health and risk status. Isn’t that a positive and empowering approach?

Use your options
Breast cancer is very difficult to find, no matter what the technology. In Australia, 17% of all women diagnosed through the BreastScreen program (1 in 6) have interval cancers (missed on their previous mammogram). Nearly 50% of all breast cancers diagnosed in women 40-49 years were interval cancers (Screening Monograph No.1/2009 BreastScreen Australia Evaluation, Final Evaluation Report).

You may also be interested in this: http://gaylesulik.com.

Book now
We are fast approaching the end of the year.
Have you been putting off having a breast checkup? Is it on your list of things to do?
Book now on 1300 310 820 to secure your appointment. Or email us with your suburb so we can find your nearest location.

Please Note:
Safe Breast Imaging is not a replacement for a diagnostic mammogram.
Safe Breast Imaging does not use a “proven” breast cancer screening technology. Your results, however, provide information that may assist you in understanding your current breast health status.
Like a screening mammogram, the imaging done by Safe Breast Imaging does not provide a final diagnosis for breast cancer.