9 out of 10 Women Misinformed about Mammograms

Most women are just being told what to do, rather than being given the facts necessary to make a fully informed decision.
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I think I do a pretty good job in the video explaining why I decided to take on this topic. There’s just so much confusion combined with the corrupting commercial interests of a billion dollar industry. As with any important health decision, everyone should be fully informed of the risks and benefits and make up their own mind about their own bodies. That’s why I created this 14 part video series.
So that NutritionFacts.org isn’t all-mammograms-all-the-time for weeks, we’re only going to run a few of these back-to-back at a time, interspersing them our “regularly scheduled programming.” Please give us feedback as to whether I should continue to do more of these deep dives or you prefer more superficial coverage across a greater variety of topics (or if we’ve hit the perfect Goldilocks mix!).
Stay tuned for the rest of the videos in this 14-part series:
• Mammogram Recommendations - Why the Conflicting Guidelines (nutritionfacts.org/video/Mammo...)
• Should Women Get Mammograms Starting at Age 40? (nutritionfacts.org/video/Shoul...)
• Do Mammograms Save Lives? (nutritionfacts.org/video/Do-Ma...)
• Consequences of False-Positive Mammogram Results (nutritionfacts.org/video/Conse...)
• Do Mammograms Hurt? (nutritionfacts.org/video/Do-Ma...)
• Can Mammogram Radiation Cause Breast Cancer? (nutritionfacts.org/video/Can-M...)
• Understanding the Mammogram Paradox (nutritionfacts.org/video/Under...)
• Overtreatment of Stage 0 Breast Cancer DCIS (nutritionfacts.org/video/Overt...)
• Women Deserve to Know the Truth About Mammograms (nutritionfacts.org/video/Women...)
• Breast Cancer and the 5-Year Survival Rate Myth (nutritionfacts.org/video/breas...)
• Why Mammograms Don’t Appear to Save Lives (nutritionfacts.org/video/Why-M...)
• Why Patients Aren’t Informed About Mammograms (nutritionfacts.org/video/Why-P...)
• The Pros and Cons of Mammograms (nutritionfacts.org/video/The-P...)
I was able to fit colon cancer screening into just one video if you can believe it! Here you go if you missed it: Should We All Get Colonoscopies Starting at Age 50? (nutritionfacts.org/video/shou....
Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at nutritionfacts.org/video/9-out... and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it.
Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at nutritionfacts.org/video/9-out.... You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgements for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics.
If you’d rather watch these videos on KZbin, subscribe to my KZbin Channel here: kzbin.info_...
Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution!
-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
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[@patty-cf7jj]

Thank you Dr. Greger! I’ve been waiting ages for you to tackle this topic. It’s so controversial it seems no one wants to touch it.

[@AH-cy4md]

When I told my doctor that I didn't want to get a mammogram, she proceeded to try to induce fear, telling me she's seen them save lives, how I'd be more subject to the horrors of surgery, chemo, radiation to treat a cancer not found early, and death! I wasn't prepared for such push back on my decision, and didn't get into my concerns about over-diagnosis and over-treatment. She did a manual exam of my breasts, then said she'd "felt something suspicious". I'm quite certain that if I hadn't declared my disinclination to the mammogram she so much wanted me to get, she wouldn't have "felt something suspicious". I have dense, fibrocystic lumpy breasts, always have. I will be changing my doctor. I'm more concerned about being erroneously diagnosed and unnecessarily treated than I am of actual cancer. I have to wonder if physicians are pushed to push screening, like maybe get a bonus for sending more women for mammograms, or have a quota to reach.

[@AH-cy4md]

Emily BH I've been vegan for years. I do notice a difference in breast sensitivity when I reduce or eliminate caffeine.

[@clarebirschel4100]

Hi I have reached the magic age in Scotland (50) were you are sent for a mammogram. I have not had my invite yet (in fact, I'm almost 52). Anyway, I have had serious health issues so drastically changed my diet. I am also a nurse so looked into mammograms and their safety. It transpired that they are not safe - you are getting a nice blast of (unnecessary) radiation and your breast tissue is getting compressed way too much. If you had a cancer in there, then there is the potential that this tumour can be "damaged" by said compression, break up and start a chain reaction around the body. My research also showed that tumours take years to grow. A few months ago I had a thermogram - completely painless, non invasive, more accurate and safe. If you can get one in your area I would recommend it.

[@AH-cy4md]

Clare Birschel Hi I looked into thermography. That's great that you were able to get that. Unfortunately, the U.S. profit-based medical insurance system won't pay for thermography, it's considered investigational and experimental. A website for breast thermography states that it is NOT a replacement for mammography, just an additional thing to use to look for the dreaded cancer. Places to get one, even if you're willing and able to pay the full cost, are limited. If insurance companies won't cover it, doctors aren't going to be doing it or recommending it. I also have concerns about the mammograms' radiation and compression. I've had two or three mammograms over the years. They hurt!! The pushers of mammograms say they don't, or that it's minimal.... bullshit! I found breast ultrasounds rather painful too. Admittedly, I have sensitive boobies that prefer to be left alone. ;-)

[@clarebirschel4100]

+April Hall well what a shame..it was a nutritionist who actually recommended it. This lady also had terminal pancreatic cancer in 2004 and she'd stil here! She has no sign of her tumour and she went down a non chemical/super healthy eating path. She was also involved in the documentary The Truth About Cancer (produced by Ty Bolinger), there's a whole episode on breast cancer. I don't normally pay for health care here but this is only available privately, it was way more detailed than I expected and the report was very extensive. I know I did the right thing and will not be subjecting my breasts to this treatment. we must do our best to keep ourselves healthy and keep the (breast cancer) wolves from the door with a healthy diet, rest and relaxation ☺

[@clarebirschel4100]

Emily BH FYI this lady is a vegan nutritionist and trained at the Hypocrites Institute and did a stint at a hospital that treats ppl with raw, organic fruits and veg. Ironically, that's were she went went when she became ill which started her on her vegan, holistic health journey. She is not your run of the mill nutritionist, she is one of the good ones and a huge fan of Dr Gregor and the like. She was the one who led me down the vegan path and I thank her for it

[@Frozen518]

Please touch on Pap Smears and other "womanly" exams as well. Please please please. I feel as though these tests do more harm than good or at least I'm unaware of the risks vs benefits. No one talks about them and as a 25 year old, I'm constantly being pressured to get them. Help!

[@Gkuljian]

Early detection has no comparison to early prevention. By the time we see the problem, it's already mature.

[@StillTrustNo1]

Emily thanks for sharing - we all have to get on our trampolines and start eating soy(if we don't do these all ready)

[@StillTrustNo1]

Yet another great example of keeping an open mind. Second how do you know if he's selling anything if you haven't watched the whole movie? Third doctors aren't scientists neither only scientists are scientists. Fourth ... "most" what can anyone use that for? Generalization is never a sign of great intellect, why should anyone listen to you? Pamela Popper is a naturopath as well and she would tear you to shreds just like she does doctors every day if you debated science with her. You should be really careful with your "definitive truths".

[@Denise0752]

Donald Trump...that is incorrect. Dr. Greger is indeed a medical doctor.

[@yesterdaysguy]

Sorry emily but Morse is a bit of a nut.

[@StillTrustNo1]

yesterdaysguy ... just 4 info: most brilliant people seem a little nuts - Greger is the same in some contexts. You need "extreme" if you want the best of the best. So its not necessarily a bad thing. Also we should focus on the content not the person. "character assassination" is not an admirable trait. Emily BH ... I agree with everything you said, accept the Soy which today has gotten an unfair negative bias. The truth is that there is primarily 3 sorts of soy, green, white and brown. Green and white is used for human foods and brown for animal feed and its the brown that is usually GMO, not the ones for humans. So if the tofu is brown or has brown spots then we should be careful, but I've personally never seen that. But obviously we should always be eating organic anyway, so there should be no way to get GMO soy.

[@mymanson77]

I made the mistake of going to a private ob-gyn recently, who ordered a mammogram and an ultrasound of my breasts upon seeing I had recently turned 40. I asked why both? She said 'just to be sure you don't have cancer' - which was not a reassuring justification. I walked away saying I would have neither. Out of curiosity, I asked the reception how much they'd cost - well there were too many zero's on that total cost, so no wonder they want to 'be sure' to make a profit by scaring people with the word 'cancer'.

[@fannys941]

I stopped having mammograms, I trust my vegan diet.

[@MrWicked61671]

@Fanny Z - vegan lifestyle**

[@veganfortheanimals6994]

Pam Popper has a lot of videos on this subject....also other subjects, such as colonoscopies, etc....check out her channel

[@labradorluvable]

I've been hounded by (well-meaning?) scheduling staff to get my "overdue" mammogram because I don't want to get one every year. Perhaps the staff is being pressured as well?

[@deborahdee3387]

They are probably getting kickbacks

[@q..q2291]

So what risks are involved with using mammograms for screening?

[@tobias.ferreira]

I was waiting for this answer too

[@yellowbmblbee]

He said it's a series....wait for the next few vids...he'll get to it.

[@NicolesNaturals]

I have a video I made on this, but be sure to watch my other video on how to prevent breast cancer too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3PLgGRtmKl0nqs

[@clarebirschel4100]

Check out the documentary The Truth About Cancer produced by Ty Bolinger (I think it's 9 parts), there's a whole episode on breast cancer. Basically, you are blasting radiation on sensitive, delicate tissues (it's an X-ray!) Also, the machine is like a giant clamp! Imagine if even there was a small tumour there...it would disrupt the tumour and, if even one tiny cell got broken off from this tumour, it could travel and lodge and grow somewhere else (usually in the liver or brain). Anyway, I am guessing that's what the good doc is going to say...I for one will not be getting any. I went for a thermo scan instead... oh, I am a nurse and I wouldn't go near a mammogram.

[@lesliedegraaf6481]

Radiation for one

[@christelleh3892]

I will never get a mammogram. I do self checks and I would do thermography over a mammogram any day.

[@kingmike40]

My mother had COPD for 6 years and in the last 2 years of her life she wasn't able to walk and it was hard for her to do the basic task. For some reason I had to take her to the doctor to get a mammogram. Her doctor knew of her health problems and didn't have long to live but non the less they gave her a mammogram. Even if she had breast cancer she wouldn't survive the treatments so what was the point.

[@TechTins_Projects]

No one ever seems to mention how brutal and painful these mammograms are.

[@terriesmith8219]

Thank you. We needed this video.

[@FelicitasKemmsies]

Excellent initiative! Thank you for shedding light on these topics! They are all very relevant, even if not directly related to nutrition.

[@persephone213]

Thanks Dr. Greger! I'd love to see a video on the pros and cons of mammograms.

[@kathyfausett9301]

Informed consent hasn't been considered to be important in the past because people assumed that their docs already considered the risk/benefit of every kind of care. Turns out that hasn't been the case regardless of whether you're talking about mammography, vaccines, or any number of other procedures. Let the buyer beware, and hope they have enough accurate information to choose best.

[@Bman63]

Good information. I’ve forwarded this to women I know and care about. :)

[@bdmesq]

Thanks for bringing u this issue where doctors seem to be blinded by the profits of this industry

[@Ace_of_Yoga]

Stay healthy everyone!!

[@flowerbin2425]

Dr. John Mcdougall also has public information regarding the brutality of breast cancer screening and treatment. It is a law in California that women must be informed of the risks before treatment. He helped make that law. Dr. GREGOR is not alone in this opinion

[@cindyaadams]

Thank you, Dr. Greger! We’re awesome!

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

So one of the reasons breast cancer used to be the nr.1 killer cancer of Dutch women is both due to and despite early detection. I could be like thank heavens I'm not a woman, however from what I understand similar issues arise with prostate cancer. What used to the nr.1 cancer for men in Holland however, most recently both have been beaten out by colon cancer with is gender indifferent. And all could be prevented by eating plant-based, how extreme...

[@eelkeaptroot1393]

I'm trying to stay optimistic, though I prefer realism, I'm afraid your cynicism is chronic and terminal though.

[@vetervgolovy]

RWS Hey, meat eating is a wide-spread cult in so called "civilized " cultures. Open your eyes, you've been brain washed to the point of oblivion.

[@reneemmen2578]

RWS meneer de professor, hoor hem dan ouwehoeren! Geen inhoud op zijn account, beetje blaten hier en daar, als dat geen robot is... Hahaha

[@vetervgolovy]

RWS there are more nutrients in plants than in meat by far, my friend.

[@raerazel7853]

I feel that mammogram are overrated and are causing harm to women especially when your doctor recommends them every year beginning at age forty- the extra exposure to radiation is helping the process of breast cancer - Since the average age is 62 when women are diagnosed with it and exposed to radiation over 20 years. Doing your breast checks at home are more important than the mammogram

[@littlevoice_11]

A deep dive on intermittent fasting (incl. 16 hour daily fast - 1 meal per day) and also the low carb /keto but vegan diets are topics worth doing a little further digging on

[@dawnrobbins5877]

Looking forward to a follow-up by Dr. Gregor on this. Just the facts would be nice.

[@thisisbs808]

Very interesting. But it leaves me with some questions. What those risksare were not mentioned. And when he mentioned the importance of knowing the numbers so people can make informed decisions, no mention of what the numbers are or where to find them. Would love to hear more on this topic with even more informaiton.

[@pedrohack2869]

Wait for the next video

[@BareEssentialsSkinBarVancouver]

Thank you for the post Dr.Gregor.

[@sagranatesagranate7782]

What about cervical screenings? Please do a video on this. Thank you Dr Greger :)

[@tamcon72]

That women could be conditioned to endanger their lives through medical tests that target their deepest health fears due to industry propaganda is outrageous. Perhaps we all have outrage fatigue? TFP.

[@xkukubax]

What I miss in the video is what are the risk factors of mammography besides the ethical.

[@ninjaturtles12121]

xkukubax this is a series check back in a few days he continues on

[@sidilicious11]

I couldn't get the links to work.

[@veg]

Early detection is a scam!

[@gigipizzuto4068]

Lichtblick go tell the people who had to fight a stage 1 cancer vs a stage 4.

[@gigipizzuto4068]

Emily BH I'm not even getting into this stupidity. Have a wonderful day.

[@mansamusa1743]

The question isn't "is it a scam?" If you say yes to that question you're a loony,the question is "Do most women need yearly mammograms?","At what age should women have mammograms" or at best for your pathetic cause "do most women need mammograms?"

[@gigipizzuto4068]

Sotiris Krol I agree. Surely prevention shouldn't be overdone. But on the other hand, how many women skip even the simplest exam such as self examination. You doing self examination can delay the mammogram maybe down to once every 3 years. Unfortunately it's not a slow growing tumor like others, but if gets to a worrying size even self examination can detect it. Mammogram would catch it at an even earlier stage.

[@gigipizzuto4068]

Closing the Loop thank you. And yes even us men can get breast cancer... Oh wait, you thought I was a woman. So no more examination from you? 😁😁😁😁

[@sungheelee9358]

I love you, Dr. Greger! Thank you!!

[@slay.documentary]

Thank you, how about dental x rays?

[@isabella2957]

Let us be Heroes he did a video already on that. It talks about the link between dental X-rays and brain tumors

[@AtheistEve]

Let us be Heroes I would avoid them unless absolutely necessary. Like if major reconstructive surgery was needed.

[@emolovesblack28]

Could you do a thing on eating dates and labor?

[@myglorialife7395]

I'm due for my annual mammogram. What are the risks? What should I know?

[@veganm8918]

For profit health care can rarely be trusted.

[@o0okgo0o]

Maybe I missed it, but what are the risks associated with screening for cancer?

[@pedrohack2869]

They'll be in the next video

[@user-yf6cd9bb8t]

They also need to tell women they can die from the treatment, as in, my mother died from radiation treatment. So we have people being treated for a cancer that may never kill them, yet the treatment may kill them. NO ONE IS TELLING THEM THIS!!!

[@robertobinkyman]

Segue to thermography?

[@gabrielam6156]

What would we do with out you. Once again, thank you for what you do for us! ❤

[@victoryleo8310]

How about Reverse osmosis water people on a few video say it bad to use

[@LegacyEvoAce]

Calcium chloride in food good or bad?

[@AtheistEve]

As far as I’m aware, in the UK, the health service invites women for mammograms every five years after age fifty. And then these screenings stop after age 65 (I think), unless there are reasons to continue monitoring. That seems about balanced for risks and benefit.

[@elithebeast3820]

*in a singing voice* "Cancer business - making women breast-less"

[@fifteenbyfive]

The only action items associated with testing are conventional treatments. No prevention, no lifestyle changes or protocols. Is there even any measure of growth rate (doubling time et al) measured without treatment? That is, can a patient test for cancer, get a diagnosis, but refuse treatment and then follow up with further screening in x, y, z months? Or is that against the rules? I know the advertising will say they're stupid and their doctor will advise against it, but can they do it anyway? If this combination was prevalent I would have thought I'd have heard of it by now. If one doesn't like the treatments does screening make sense at all, benefits and risks of screening aside? Is screening little more than a bridge to treatment, or is it nothing more?

[@Tchairdjian]

So what are the negatives??? You never mentioned them!

[@TheLaly37]

I live in the Netherlands and had pain in my breast . I am vegan and I have been strongly advise to have a mammography. What shall I do. Where can I find more info. I am doubting it now...

[@TheLaly37]

I am 38

[@Wavedancerone]

Yes !!!! Most screenings are basically bunk!! Prevention for the animals! lol

[@marikevandergraaf]

in my opinion the perfect mix!

[@HelenRullesteg]

Well it would be just as, or more helpful, if Dr. Greger then also told what the cons and disadvantages are. It´s all very good saying their are cons, but it´s not very helpful if we´re not told what those cons are.

[@nomad9338]

I guess, since I'm on a very low fat, plant based diet, I don't need to have mammograms.

[@Swanky95472]

So what are the HARMS of mammograms?

[@pedrohack2869]

In the next video...

[@amandadangerfieldpiano]

"Each woman has to decide for herself", not "each woman has to decide for themselves." :-)

[@ScrayXXI]

Thoughts on Matt Dillahounty?

[@veganfortheanimals6994]

(Seems like a random comment)...but anyway, like his channel (AE), except for his views on veganism

[@sonja4164]

Vegan For The Animals Ⓥ yeah he's about as thick-headed on veganism as a religious zealot is about their belief in a god, and he can't even see it. It's fascinating actually.

[@veganfortheanimals6994]

+Sonja....definitely agree....

[@BlueSkies360]

Empty talk. Better tell me why not to screen

[@Dr_Dieta]

Metformin and low carb = no breast cancer. Thanks Dr