I Agree, Mammograms "Aren't a Magic Bullet"

Here's another study that says "mammograms aren't a magic bullet" for surviving breast cancer. I know that because my two, 2.5 cm lumps weren't detected on a mammogram at all.

Which isn't odd for someone who was only 37.5 at the time. Many, many, many younger (premenopausal) women have dense breasts--where the ducts and lobes and connective tissue haven't turned to fat, as happens when you age. On a mammogram, you can distinguish between fat and tumor easily; finding cancer in all the other stuff is difficult.

The article says more people are surviving breast cancer primarily because of better treatment, not because of better screening.

So I say what I always say about this: Let's get better screening methods!!!!! Something that works for dense breasts as well as less dense ones; something that insurance will cover for all women; something that doesn't expose women to radiation.... And let's get it out there now!!!

This isn't about keeping screening recommendations status quo; this is about needing something better.

NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!