Shocking! Docs IGNORING Cancer Guidelines

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

It’s a routine that millions of American women follow every year.

You get a reminder in the mail that it’s time for a mammogram… and you head in for an appointment.

But it turns out that lots of women are getting mammograms far more often than they should.

And the test could be doing more harm than good.

A shocking study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that physicians are routinely ignoring national breast cancer screening guidelines.

They’re over-testing women and exposing them to lots of risk (and radiation) for practically nothing.

Fortunately, there are a couple steps you can take to keep yourself safe.

Breast cancer screening suggestions come from two major organizations.

One being the American Cancer Society, which recommends mammograms every two years for women ages 45 to 55.

And the other is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which recommends screening every two years from age 50–74.

However, a survey recently conducted by the Breast Cancer Social Networks study (CanS-NET) found that 81 percent of primary physicians were grossly disregarding these guidelines.

They were suggesting mammograms to women ages 40 to 44 years old, and telling women they should be coming in annually (instead of every other year).

Even worse, 52 percent were still recommending mammograms for women 75 and older, who shouldn’t be getting them at all!

This means your doc could be ignoring protocol and putting you in harm’s way every year!

And all this over-testing can lead to misdiagnosis, additional testing, and even radiation exposure — all good reasons to ensure your doctor is following protocol.

So, the next time your doctor suggests a mammogram, be sure to inquire whose (if any) guidelines they’re following.

Or if you’re in an age group that’s not suggested, let your doctor know and ask why they are recommending this test.

And finally, one of the best ways to detect breast cancer is with a monthly self-exam. Click here to find out how the self-exam works. 

Live well,

Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily

Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: feedback@livingwelldaily.com – and click here to like us on Facebook.


Sources

[1] Clinicians Not Following Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

[2] Self Breast Exam

[3] Risks

Natalie Moore

Written By Natalie Moore

Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.

View More Free Articles

Olive Oil Compound WOWS Researchers

Olive oil has been getting some well-deserved attention the last few years. So it would be easy to assume that the golden oil’s status as a health food was recently earned. But the truth is, olive oil has been considered a healthy staple in the human diet since it was first developed 600 years ago....

Read This

NEW Medicinal Mushroom Benefit UNCOVERED

I’m a big fan of medicinal mushrooms. Almost everyone has eaten a standard mushroom on a pizza or in a spaghetti sauce, of course. But most folks have yet to experience medical mushrooms’ power to improve our health. Medicinal mushrooms are already used to treat heart, liver, and brain conditions. They can boost the immune...

Read This

[SENIORS] Cellular GLITCH Discovered?!

Aging isn’t for sissies, that’s for sure. But hey, I always remind myself the alternative is FAR worse! Besides, when you sit back and take stock, you’ll realize that a life well lived – like your own – is something to be proud of. But those accomplishments, unfortunately, don’t reduce your risk of suffering the...

Read This

Overlooked Diabetes Risk Drives Up Blood Sugar

If you’re concerned about diabetes, you’ve probably done your research. You likely focused on all the common problem areas to ward off rising blood sugar: the grocery store… the gym… and the bathroom scale. And those ARE all great places to start! Eating better, exercising, and losing weight can go a long way toward bringing your...

Read This

Boredom BUSTING Hack Keeps You Sane AND Healthy

This time of year, I start to feel a little stir-crazy. Cabin fever sets in as I tire of the cold and snow. And I start thinking about the warmer weather that’s right around the corner (but still feels SO far away). You see, I enjoy walking, hiking, and running outside. It’s good for both...

Read This

Loneliness Linked to THIS Startling Side Effect

Before the pandemic, we didn’t talk much about being lonely. But when the virus locked us down in our homes, the issue of isolation could no longer be ignored. Some of us were experiencing that kind of loneliness for the first time. But the truth is social isolation has ALWAYS been a common problem for...

Read This

MAILBAG: Ease Prostate Problems NATURALLY

“Are there any natural solutions for an enlarged prostate?” -Mike from Summerville, South Carolina Hi Mike, There are many things you can do to improve your prostate health. Eating better is the first step. This means loading up on nutritious foods, including plenty of fresh organic vegetables and lean meats. (And yes, that DOES mean...

Read This

Ditch Depression WITHOUT Drugs

You think that when you reach “your golden years,” you won’t have much to worry about anymore. After all, many of life’s major stressors, like work, kids, and relationships, are pretty much settled by the time you hit your sixties. So why the heck are we all so darned depressed then?! According to a recent...

Read This

The Ovarian Cancer Risk You NEVER Saw Coming

Cancer research is nothing new. In fact, we’ve been studying this killer since the 1800s. Yet despite all that investigating, there’s still so much we DON’T know. That’s why each time we reach a new milestone in our understanding of cancer, it should be celebrated. And a recent study has helped us make another large...

Read This

Weird Supermarket Secret BEATS Sunburn

In the winter, we tend to ignore the importance of protecting our skin from the sun’s powerful rays. But where I live, in Colorado, I see many folks come down from the ski areas with “raccoon eyes.” This happens when skiers’ faces burn, but the areas around their eyes remain pale because they wear goggles....

Read This