A study released on August 1 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute confirms that the rise in breast cancer incidence throughout the 1980s and early 1990s was consistent with the simultaneous adoption of screening mammography.
In addition, the new research fortifies the findings of the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative: The rising and falling trends of breast cancer throughout the same period parallel the increasing, then declining, use of menopausal hormone therapy.
COMMENT: Synthetic hormones have long been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Another study released this month in The British Medical Journal reinforces that the risk of breast cancer, stroke and blood clots from synthetic HRT outweighs its ability to prevent hip fracture, heart disease and colon cancer. (Source: BMJ, 2007; 335: 239-44)
Since the 1990s, radiation from routine mammograms has been known to pose significant risk of initiating and promoting breast cancer. Contrary to conventional assurances, radiation from a mammogram isn’t minimal. Typically, a screening mammogram consists of two views of each breast, one from above and one from the side. Images are obtained by compressing breast tissue between two plastic plates. If an abnormality is found, a diagnostic mammogram will be necessary which involves additional views. Each view can expose the breast to as much as 0.2 rad per x-ray (a rad is a measure of radiation dose).
All this radiation is cumulative over time and each 1.0 rad of exposure increases the risk of breast cancer by 1 percent. (Add up the total number of mammograms and views you’ve had to estimate your additional risk.) The breast tissue of pre-menopausal women, ages 40 to 50, is highly sensitive to radiation, possibly increasing the risk even more.
The American Cancer Society believes the use of regular mammograms, MRIs, and clinical breast exams for early detection is the best opportunity for reducing the breast cancer death rate. Notice that their focus is on reducing the death rate, not in reducing the incidence.
Instead of developing higher resolution mammograms and MRIs, research dollars should be spent on finding the causes of breast cancer and then developing programs to avoid them. The focus needs to shift from cancer survival to an overall rate of breast cancer. Eliminating the use of synthetic HRT is a step in the right direction…but more needs to be done. Early detection just isn’t good enough and won’t change the future health for women.
