Subscribe to this blog's feedThough organizations like the American Cancer Society recommend that women over 40 get annual mammograms (for more early-detection tips go here), there are downsides to getting the annual breast screening, from momentary discomfort during the boob-smooshing part to false-alarms leading to biopsies and other often-painful procedures to the risk that comes from radiation exposure.
The American College of Physicians suggests that doctors review both the possible harms and benefits of getting a mammogram with female patients 40 to 49 years old. However, none of my doctors has ever suggested that there's a downside to having my breasts tested. Perhaps that's because my mother developed the disease and my doctors believe there's no downside of mammograms because I'm at higher risk. But I'm not certain that's the reason, since none of my doctors has ever mentioned that mammograms sometimes have undesirable consequences and until now I didn't know to ask.
In the following article, published in the Journal of Family Practice, a physician provides fellow doctors with a simple sheet to help them discuss mammogram's potential pros and cons with their patients. Of note, the sheet differentiates between the risk incurred by black and white women, since black women are less likely to develop the disease than their white counterparts but are more likely to die of it -- and at a younger age.
You may want to print this sheet out to help you have a more intelligent conversation the next time you visit your doctor.