Find Out If Mammograms Are Essential
Going to the doctor is never fun, especially if you're going specifically to take a test of some kind. It’s really more the anxiety of waiting for the results that tends to keep people away from their doctor, especially when it comes to women and mammograms.
This controversial exam has been debated over and over again through the years, causing some women to stay away altogether. However, it is important to know all the information before making the decision to not get tested.
For a long time it was recommended that if you were 40-years-old or older, you should get a mammogram every 2 years at the minimum. However, this all changed in 2009 when The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force announced that women should start getting screened every two years once they hit 50. To even further the debate, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society, believe women should start getting mammograms at age 40.
This wealth of information can leave a woman wondering when she should begin her screenings. It is important for women to talk openly with their doctors about the topic. There is an approach called “informed choice", which allows a woman to weigh the pros and cons of getting screened, and better decide with her doctor what the appropriate age to begin getting mammograms is for her.
It may seem strange to want to wait to get a mammogram screening, but there are risks that go along with taking the test. There can be false-positives, over-diagnosis and over-treatment, all of which can end up being detrimental to a woman’s health. Getting early screenings also may not be as beneficial as once thought. Researchers have determined that early mammograms only reduce mortality risks by about 15 percent. It turns out that the research suggests that out of 10,000 women, 190 will get cancer over the course of 10 years. Out of these diagnosed women, the screenings will only potentially save about 5 lives.
This low number is cause to make women hesitate when it comes to starting a mammogram routine. Especially if you factor in the consequences that can come with getting routinely screened. It is estimated that 6,000 women will receive a false-positive test result within 10 years of screening. This can lead to unnecessary biopsies, radiation treatment and hormone therapy, not to mention the extreme emotional stress and anxiety.
For these reasons, it is important to build a repertoire with your doctor about mammogram screenings. It is becoming more and more clear that every woman will have an individual approach to starting their screening routine. Just make sure you don’t ignore the need to eventually get a mammogram, whenever that may be. Stay in touch with your doctor, that way you are insured to have all the correct information in order to make an informed decision about the best plan for you and your body.