Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Routine Breast Cancer Screenings

Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Routine Breast Cancer Screenings : Are you playing it safe or will you be sorry?

With many procedures in life, you’ll come face-to-face with double-edged swords. While something may seem to help, does it actually or are their unseen consequences? If there are, do the pros outweigh the cons?

One of the greatest debates is a routine mammogram. There are definitely pros and cons, but it is ultimately up to the individual person as to whether or not they schedule one!

If you’re trying to decide what to do, make sure to keep reading. We will dive into the pros and cons to find the answer to the question, “Are mammograms safe?”.

Pros of a Mammogram

One of the obvious pros to a mammogram is being able to spot tumors. It is estimated 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their life. Many women have discovered their tumors by going through the process of getting a mammogram.

The earlier you do detect a tumor, the easier it is to treat the problem. This then decreases the morbidity rates. From this perspective, you can say mammograms are important in terms of health and wellbeing.

As far as the procedure logistics go, the procedure itself is quick with minimal pain. You can usually get the whole thing over within about half an hour. You’ll probably end up waiting longer on the doctor than it actually takes to get it done.

Between being able to catch a tumor early on and being a near painless process, you can have mental rest with a mammogram. It’s always a relief to know you’re healthy or to know about the problem in the early stages. Now, let’s look into the dangers of mammograms.

Cons of a Mammogram

Other than cute puppies or the guy next door, nothing in this world is perfect. This, unfortunately, extends to mammogram risks.

There is such a thing as false-positive tests. This means you were told there’s a tumor when there’s no such thing. This can lead to extreme anxiety and unneeded invasive procedures.

On the other side of the coin, there are also false-negative tests. This results in not properly treating something that needs to be addressed.

Many people are also saying regularly getting mammograms can actually increase your chance of developing breast cancer. This would be due to x-ray exposure.

If you believe you’ve developed cancer, including breast cancer, due to exposure to certain procedures, make sure you find a lawyer.

One of the dangers of mammograms many people don’t think about is over-diagnosis and over-treatment. When over-diagnosing occurs, doctors address a tumor that may have not gone on to cause issues, or it could have even gone away on its own.

This then leads to over-treatment, resulting in side effects not wanted from surgery or radiation.

Are Mammograms Safe?

The great debate of deciding are mammograms safe continues on once again. There are obvious benefits and potential consequences.

It is up to the individual person as to whether or not it’s something they choose to do, but research and consideration always encouraged!

If you want to know more about fitness and health or even want to write for us, make sure to check out the rest of our site.