Mammography is basically x-ray picture of breast. It is carried out to detect breast cancer, whether symptoms are there or not, it can be carried. Most of you might have heard that mammography saves life and that it should be done annually. But there is no conclusive evidence that it is true. In fact it can be harmful, causing breast cancer.
Here is something that you need to know if you are planning to do mammography.
1. Over Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
It comes as a surprise but it is true that if you are looking for something wrong then you are more likely to find it to match your expectations.
According to the journal of American medical association, the diagnosis of breast cancer is likely to be much higher when mammography is carried out. There are about 30-50% of over diagnosis of breast cancer. Sometimes mammography also leads to the discovery of non invasive tumors that have limited or no health risk.
2.Mammography Can Give False Positive Results
It is very common that mammogram can give false positive results, this happens mostly with younger women. There can be certain anomalies in breast tissue which mammogram can falsely diagnose as cancer. When a women is misdiagnosed with cancer, it gives her anxiety and also have psychological effects.
3. Radiation Is Harmful
It is a known fact that certain tests like mammogram or x ray releases radiation that is very dangerous for our health. Exposure to such radiation can be detrimental and may cause cancer overtime. Sometimes radiation may even induce breast cancer which may lead to death. Risk of cancer increases with the number of mammograms carried.
4. Undisclosed Information
Often we are misguided by our doctors regarding the full information about mammograms. The doctor who recommends for mammography will not tell you the underlying facts about it. He will not tell you the side effects of it. Usually the pros and cons of mammography is not mentioned and you may be kept in dark.
5. Increased Cost
It is not compulsory that mammogram can give accurate result, sometimes it can show the result positive and eventually it can turn out to be negative. The test may be carries unnecessarily that can only put a hole in our pockets. It can lead to increased cost to the health care system.
