Read this article*:
This report was published through Medscape on January 29, 2024*. In it, the author, F.
Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE asks the question of “why are young women all of a sudden
more likely to get breast cancer?” While this is a wide-open question that has many
differing opinions in reply, the author “speculates that there are multiple causes,
including [but not limited to] environmental toxins, pollution, hormone exposure
[xenoestrogens] and so on”. He states that “figuring this out will be the work of multiple
other studies.” But his point in bringing this JAMA Network Open finding to the surface
in his article is that if “the landscape of cancer is continuously changing, we need to
adapt to it”. He further surmises that “national agencies may need to reconsider their
guidelines for when screening mammography should begin”.
My thoughts on this article conclusion were instant with regard to the following:
Why is he considering that only a mammogram can be a breast cancer screening?
Mammogram, just like the other structural screenings of ultrasound and
MRI are useful screenings for abnormal structure in the breast. (It is important to
note here that a mammogram - nor any other breast screening - can diagnose a
breast cancer. Breast cancer can only be diagnosed conventionally through a
biopsy).
The doctor seems unaware that the starting age for mammography has
traditionally been at age 40 according to the guidelines and why it cannot be
used effectively for women under the age of 40. [1] According to the Yale
Medicine [2] the reason is that women under the age of 40 often have dense
breast tissue leading to an inconclusive mammography result. When this occurs
some other type of screening is necessary in lieu of the mammogram.
However, current primary insurance companies will not cover the cost of a
mammogram (or ultrasound/MRI) for women under the age of 40 unless there is
a reason to do the screening (i.e. family history of breast cancer, a symptom
concern or palpable lump present in a breast – peace of mind in preventative
screening is not considered a valid, medically-codable reason for a screening).
The guidelines currently put out by “national agencies” show that the
recommended age for a mammogram was 40, then changed to 50 and is
currently back to 40, but even that guideline is ambiguously noted as being
“under review” by a national agency. If you consider these agencies to be
authorities, the American Cancer Society states the starting age is 45 [3]. The
Mayo Clinic says 40 [4]. Johns Hopkins says it was 50, but is now back to 40 [5].
The only “national agency” of note in this line up of researched agencies is the
USPST whose website currently states that there is an “update in progress” for
breast mammography screening [6].
If mammography is not recommended or available for women under 40 and getting an
ultrasound or MRI requires a reason to be screened, then what does that leave for
women under the age of 40 that would like to have peace of mind in preventative
screening for breast cancer, especially in light of these current findings of breast cancer
in young women?
The answer is thermography! Thermography is a noninvasive screening,
perfectly suited for a young woman with dense breast tissue since it is a test of
physiology and not structure and a young women can start a baseline in
thermography at the age of 28 of her own accord. She does not need a symptom
complaint, family history or reason at all to have thermography other than her
own health care choice for peace of mind in screening for breast cancer
prevention. Hopefully more doctors will catch on to this valuable screening and
that it will be considered a valid method of screening for these young women so
that they too can be assured of a viable way to monitor for breast cancer
development.
If you know a young woman that is concerned about her breast health and she
has been unable to obtain a referral for a screening from her healthcare provider,
please let her know about thermography. There is no referral needed and the
results come back to her directly making this a quick process in helping her to
retain peace of mind regarding her breast health.