Comments on: Dr. Kate: Is Breast Self-Exam Best? http://www.emandlo.com/2009/03/dr-kate-is-breast-self-exam-best/ Your daily dose of advice, news, and stories about sex, love, and other important stuff. No yoga mat required. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:33:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Natalie http://www.emandlo.com/2009/03/dr-kate-is-breast-self-exam-best/comment-page-1/#comment-4085 Natalie Sat, 15 Aug 2009 06:11:11 +0000 http://www.emandlo.com/?p=1716#comment-4085 I started to have a professional exam with a breast cancer physician at 45 - breast exams are not recommended earlier than that as they often lead to biopsies. Self-examination has been totally discredited and my Dr says it's better to be "breast aware" - to take note of shape, look and colour when you're drying yourself after a shower. I think the emphasis on cancer is a bit unhealthy - I try to keep it all in perspective. We don't have routine gyn exams in my country and pap smears are "offered" from age 30 and then 5 yearly until 50,55 or 60 (depending on past results and risk profile) No woman is forced or pressured to have smears - they have risks, so it must be YOUR decision. Women are given clear risk information and there are no scare campaigns. As a very low risk woman, I was told that I'd be unlikely to benefit, but if I wanted them, I was likely to face at least one false positive and biopsies in my lifetime. (55% of Finnish women face biopsies (only a very small number have any sign of malignancy) - in the States it's a whopping 95%) I made an informed decision not to have screening. (I will also decline breast screening - the evidence against them is very strong - new research suggests they may INCREASE the risk of cancer because of the radiation and bruising of the breast tissue) If you have mammograms, be very careful before age 50 - they are VERY likely to lead to biopsies in women under 50. I was a bit shocked to read of all the invasive exams that are recommended annually for US women. In my country, our doctors are opposed to over-examining and over-screening as it leads to over-treatment and harm. It also means you lead lives focused on cancer and medicalized to a high degree.... I think the healthiest approach is to adopt a balanced view - one that gives YOU the best protection without becoming a permanent patient. Womanhood isn't a disease. I started to have a professional exam with a breast cancer physician at 45 – breast exams are not recommended earlier than that as they often lead to biopsies.
Self-examination has been totally discredited and my Dr says it’s better to be “breast aware” – to take note of shape, look and colour when you’re drying yourself after a shower.
I think the emphasis on cancer is a bit unhealthy – I try to keep it all in perspective.
We don’t have routine gyn exams in my country and pap smears are “offered” from age 30 and then 5 yearly until 50,55 or 60 (depending on past results and risk profile) No woman is forced or pressured to have smears – they have risks, so it must be YOUR decision.
Women are given clear risk information and there are no scare campaigns.
As a very low risk woman, I was told that I’d be unlikely to benefit, but if I wanted them, I was likely to face at least one false positive and biopsies in my lifetime. (55% of Finnish women face biopsies (only a very small number have any sign of malignancy) – in the States it’s a whopping 95%)
I made an informed decision not to have screening. (I will also decline breast screening – the evidence against them is very strong – new research suggests they may INCREASE the risk of cancer because of the radiation and bruising of the breast tissue)
If you have mammograms, be very careful before age 50 – they are VERY likely to lead to biopsies in women under 50.
I was a bit shocked to read of all the invasive exams that are recommended annually for US women.
In my country, our doctors are opposed to over-examining and over-screening as it leads to over-treatment and harm.
It also means you lead lives focused on cancer and medicalized to a high degree….
I think the healthiest approach is to adopt a balanced view – one that gives YOU the best protection without becoming a permanent patient.
Womanhood isn’t a disease.

]]> By: Cheating http://www.emandlo.com/2009/03/dr-kate-is-breast-self-exam-best/comment-page-1/#comment-1187 Cheating Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:15:46 +0000 http://www.emandlo.com/?p=1716#comment-1187 Is there a way to locate someone locally to try this? Is there a way to locate someone locally to try this?

]]> By: AJ http://www.emandlo.com/2009/03/dr-kate-is-breast-self-exam-best/comment-page-1/#comment-970 AJ Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:50:38 +0000 http://www.emandlo.com/?p=1716#comment-970 My wife has had both breasts removed because of cancer. Soon after she started chemo I was talking to some friends about the preventative measures she had taken because she had a strong family history. One woman went home and told her husband that she had not done a self exam in a long time. They both did an exam and her husband asked about a lump he felt. Within two weeks a biopsy found a malignant lump and she eventually had the breat removed with no chemo required. She was so thankful that was willing to talk so directly about the subject. I would recommend that women who have a family history of breast cancer be more vigilent. It has been over 5 years since my wife's diagnosis and she doing fine and is as beautiful as ever. AJ My wife has had both breasts removed because of cancer. Soon after she started chemo I was talking to some friends about the preventative measures she had taken because she had a strong family history. One woman went home and told her husband that she had not done a self exam in a long time. They both did an exam and her husband asked about a lump he felt. Within two weeks a biopsy found a malignant lump and she eventually had the breat removed with no chemo required. She was so thankful that was willing to talk so directly about the subject.

I would recommend that women who have a family history of breast cancer be more vigilent.

It has been over 5 years since my wife’s diagnosis and she doing fine and is as beautiful as ever.

AJ

]]> By: Antonio http://www.emandlo.com/2009/03/dr-kate-is-breast-self-exam-best/comment-page-1/#comment-964 Antonio Thu, 05 Mar 2009 21:36:29 +0000 http://www.emandlo.com/?p=1716#comment-964 I don't have breasts, but I do perform regular testicular exams, guided by a pamphlet I found at a local hospital. I don’t have breasts, but I do perform regular testicular exams, guided by a pamphlet I found at a local hospital.

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