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Here is talk about the 'benefit of mammograms', a timely subject it
seems and another glowing example of pro-active medicine at its best.
Dr. Joseph wonders whether we are 'slow to act', he is rambling about the
potential role of Aspirin in reducing the risk of contracting breast
cancer and he finds that it is high 'time to extend the benefits of
medicines to the maximum possible people'.
There is talk about HRT risks and, overall praises are in the air about
new recommendations for more, and especially early screening.
For those who can be scared sufficiently there is always this procedure
called 'preventive surgery', which also goes by the name breast
amputation.
Not a word about risks from the mammogram itself, perhaps this is seen as
negligible (?).
Yes, I know, "the benefits outweigh.....", but do they?
Just as pap smears lead to unnecessary intervention so do mammograms bring
new risks.
My suggestion: Go on HRT, have a preventive mastectomy, wait for the
absence of osteoporosis and heart problems and check with your doctor
prior to each bowel movement.
Are we slow to act?
It is good to know that the benefit of mammogram is reaching more women
who are prone to breast cancer. I think the role of aspirin has to be
addressed in a better way. As we know from the study by Dr Alfred Neugut
and Mary Beth Terry at Columbia University (JAMA2004; 291:2433-2440)
aspirin has a role in hormone receptor positive tumours. So would it be
sensible to select atleast some subgroups like women who are planning to
take hormone replacement therapy and consider them for aspirin? It is true
that we don’t have randomised controlled trials and we are not sure about
the exact dose of aspirin to be used. But even for coronary artery disease
and stroke the dose of aspirin is still debated. It is probably time that
we extend the benefit of medicines to the maximum possible people, at
least for well-used drugs such as aspirin
The benefits of science-"Your Breasts were expendable"
Here is talk about the 'benefit of mammograms', a timely subject it
seems and another glowing example of pro-active medicine at its best.
Dr. Joseph wonders whether we are 'slow to act', he is rambling about the
potential role of Aspirin in reducing the risk of contracting breast
cancer and he finds that it is high 'time to extend the benefits of
medicines to the maximum possible people'.
There is talk about HRT risks and, overall praises are in the air about
new recommendations for more, and especially early screening.
For those who can be scared sufficiently there is always this procedure
called 'preventive surgery', which also goes by the name breast
amputation.
Not a word about risks from the mammogram itself, perhaps this is seen as
negligible (?).
Yes, I know, "the benefits outweigh.....", but do they?
Just as pap smears lead to unnecessary intervention so do mammograms bring
new risks.
My suggestion: Go on HRT, have a preventive mastectomy, wait for the
absence of osteoporosis and heart problems and check with your doctor
prior to each bowel movement.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests