Are Mammograms Triggering Breast Cancer?
Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the world, and sadly, it only keeps growing. By 2040, experts predict it will take away upwards of 1 million lives each year.
Now that’s serious. So, what are health institutions doing to prevent this?
Well, you’ve most likely heard of mammograms, a common screening process that’s meant to detect breast cancer early, to then provide treatment.
But here’s the problem: after decades of women getting these annual scans, breast cancer rates are still drastically rising.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at mammograms, how safe they really are, and whether they make sense for cancer prevention.
And in the end, we’ll discuss some alternative options you most likely haven’t heard of.
The Truth Behind Radiation & Cancer
The way Mammograms work is by using X-rays to scan your breast tissue. And from the surface, it might look harmless. However, X-rays apply ionizing radiation, which, ironically, damages your DNA and actually increases your risk of cancer.
You might think that the low amount of radiation shouldn’t be that harmful.
Well, not really. Dr. Russell Blaylock, a neurosurgeon – noticed that annual mammograms can notably increase your chances of developing breast cancer.
Here at the Budwig Center, we value the opinion of Dr. Johanna Budwig, who had a reported success rate of over 90% in dealing with cancer.
And, if you’re familiar with her research, you would know she was all about the health of our cells. She believed cancer wasn’t just a random mutation but a result of a person’s diet, habits, personal circumstances, and the way a person interacts with these.
Dr Budwig warned about the dangers of radiation, mainly because of the damage that it can cause to the cellular structures of our body. One of the main benefits of the Budwig diet is its focus on essential fatty acids, which provide energy for cells and even help them heal naturally.
On the other hand, mammograms expose the body to harmful radiation, which can damage healthy tissue and lead to cancer.
The Danger Behind a False Diagnosis
Picture this: You go in for your routine mammogram. A few days later, you get a notification: “We found something suspicious.” Your heart drops. Then, after a biopsy, it turns out it was nothing. Simply a false alarm. But that fear? It doesn’t disappear.
In fact, one study discovered that false-positive results from mammograms can cause huge psychological harm.
Yes, it can be a terrifying and traumatic experience. And after 10 mammograms, the chance of getting at least one false-positive result is between 20% and 60%.
Another study found that half of all women will experience at least one false-positive mammogram after a decade of annual screenings. That means thousands of women went through unnecessary biopsies, surgeries, radiation, and even chemotherapy — all because of incorrect mammogram results.
According to Dr. Hamer, cancer is often linked to emotional conflicts (also known as “biological conflicts”). One widespread instance of a biological conflict is when a person is told they have cancer, and they believe it. Because of this terrible news, the body responds, and if the conflict is not resolved, it can lead to the advancement of the disease.
Think about the last time you had heavy stress or serious worries. It most likely led to you feeling physically sick. Now imagine being told you might have cancer and then having to wait weeks for it to be confirmed. That’s a nightmare no one should have to go through.
The Harmful Invasiveness of Mammograms
Other than exposing your body to toxic radiation, there’s another major issue with screening that’s rarely talked about.
In order to perform a mammography, your breast tissue is squeezed between two plates. And if there is cancer, that pressure could potentially cause cysts or tumors to burst, causing them to spread into the surrounding tissue.
Even Dr Charles Simone, a former researcher at the National Cancer Institute, has outright said that mammograms increase the risk of developing breast cancer and spreading existing tumors.
A Quick View at Breast Cancer Rates
Lastly, it’s pretty interesting to consider the coincidence between the origin of Mammograms and the increase in breast cancer.
Mammograms have been around for over 30 years. And you wonder: if they were genuinely catching cancer early, shouldn’t breast cancer rates be decreasing? Instead, we’re seeing some forms — like ductal carcinoma DCIS) — skyrocket by over 339% since mammograms became routine. That’s not exactly what you call a “success story”.
Safer Alternatives to Mammograms
Even though mammograms are not the safest option, we still need some method to identify the cancer early. So here are some safer alternatives:
- Thermography. It is an absolutely non-invasive treatment that uses no radiation. Its operation detects heat patterns in the body. Since cancer cells have a higher metabolism, thermography can detect those changes long before a tumor starts forming. This treatment doesn’t invoke squeezing or any stress.
- Ultrasound. This treatment option is also free of radiation and compression of the breast. Ultrasound works by providing real-time imaging. This option is more effective for dense breasts, and spotting suspicious masses. However, we recommend caution with Ultrasound, as the health effects of exposure to high-frequency sound waves are still not fully understood.
The Bottom Line
From what we have seen, Mammograms are not the best option for early cancer detection. The radiation, the invasiveness and the high false-positive rate all of these factors add up, making this treatment unsafe.
Plus, as we have seen, breast cancer rates have only kept increasing since the origin of mammograms.
So there is a lesson here to be learnt. Instead of blindly following routine recommendations, always question your decisions, especially when it’s related to your health.
One additional issue with Mammograms (despite their ability to detect cancer) is that Mammograms, and the treatment that usually follows, don’t contribute to addressing the root causes of cancer.
Dr. Budwig understood the importance of this decades ago, which led her to create a natural approach that promoted flaxseed oil, sulfur-rich proteins, and sunlight. On the other hand, Dr. Hammer observed the connection between unresolved emotional conflicts and cancer. The Budwig Center uses the most effective approach to cancer; addressing the body and mind together.
If you or a loved one is looking for a safer, more effective way to address cancer, our Home Program provides everything you need. We’ll guide you through powerful, natural methods that target the root causes of cancer.
Sources:
- Ginsburg, O., & Bray, F. (2022). By 2040, the burden from breast cancer in the world will increase significantly due to population growth and ageing. PubMed.
- Tavakol, M., & Joulaei, H. (2021). The present study suggests that radiation exposure in early childhood can cause significant health effects during their lifetime. ScienceDirect.
- Atlas Family Health Center. (2011, June). Breast screenings: Know your options.
- Budwig Center. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions.
- Sonnenblick, A., & Goss, P. E. (2016). Breast cancer treatment: The role of mammography. PubMed Central.
- Melnik, B. C., & John, S. M. (2015). A new approach to breast cancer prevention and treatment: The role of mammography. PubMed Central.
- UC Davis Health. (2022, March). Half of all women experience false-positive mammograms after 10 years of annual screening.
- Humphrey, L. L., & Helfand, M. (2016). Mammographic compression and its potential to conceal malignant processes. PubMed Central.
- TDI NJ. (n.d.). The untold story of breast imaging.
- Jatoi, I., & Procter, M. (1997). The role of mammography in breast cancer prevention: Controversies and findings. Journal of the National Cancer Institute.