Finally we have some sanity from the medical mainstream concerning mammograms. Last week, when the American College of Physicians (ACP) released new mammogram recommendations for women in their 40s, I'm sure that many women were surprised to discover that there are risks associated with mammograms. We're always hearing about the importance of mammograms - how they're the "gold standard" for monitoring breast cancer - but the risks are rarely mentioned, if at all. According to the ACP panel, theirs is the first comprehensive review of mammogram studies that has bothered to evaluate the potential negative consequences of the procedure. After the panel reviewed more than 115 mammogram studies conducted between 1966 and 2005, they concluded that mammogram risks may outweigh the benefits for women in their 40s. Previous guidelines suggested that women over the age of 40 should have a mammogram once each year. The new guidelines recommend that women in this age group should talk to their doctors to measure the risks against the benefits. This will put a lot of doctors in the awkward position of having to admit there are risks involved with mammography, such as radiation exposure and false positive results, which are often followed by unnecessary biopsies, chemotherapy, and even surgery. Needless to say, many mainstream doctors are howling over the new recommendations, which directly contradict the recommendations of the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute. Let them howl! They'll only draw more attention to the fact that there are significant dangers in painfully squeezing breasts between two metal plates and exposing them to about 1,000 times more radiation than a chest x-ray. You can find more information about mammogram risks and safe alternatives to mammography in the e-Alert "End of the Day" (2/22/07), at this link: http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealerts/ea200702/ea20070222a.html Source: "College of Physicians Challenges Mammogram Guidelines" Rob Stein, The Washington Post, 4/3/07, sfgate.com | 
