WHEN TO GET A MAMMOGRAPHY If a woman has discovered a lump After the age of 50 or after menopause - when the breast is much less sensitive to radiation – at which point it is best to combine mammography with thermography to get the very best, most accurate information in detecting the earliest possible cancers Just because you have a lump in your breast doesn’t mean you have cancer. Pseudo Lump is breast tissue approaching 1 inch in diameter that has formed into a lump, such as a pocket of dead fat or scar tissue that resulted from trauma caused by surgery or injury. Lumpiness – little bumps that are approximately one-eighth inch in diameter. Harmless and perfectly natural – and has not been linked to later development of breast cancer Cyst – These lumps are fluid-filled sacs that are most common in women between 30 and 55 They feel squishy near the surface Those that are more deeply embedded in breast tissue feel harder Fibroid or Fibroadenoma is a lump ranging from half an inch to 2 ½ inches or larger. A rare cancer occurs in about 1% of all these lumps (usually the larger ones). This type of cancer is relatively harmless because it doesn’t spread. You’ve got plenty of time to look at all your options. Cancer Lump – By the time a cancerous lump is large enough for you to feel, it’s usually grown about half an inch in diameter. If a cancerous lump is much smaller, you won’t feel it. In the early stages, a lump of cancerous cells feels like normal tissue. It will not change with menstrual cycles and is rarely painful. Unless the type of cancer you have is extremely aggressive, you still have time to get information and examine your options. According to a survey published in the British Medical Journal of 27 websites containing information on mammography screening, the following websites garnered a top rating for balanced, unbiased information: National Breast Cancer Coalition: http://www.stopbreastcancer.org Breast Cancer Action: http://www.bcation.org Center For Medical Consumers: http://www.medicalconsumers.org

Mammography is not the only option. Monthly breast-self examination (BSE) Annual examination by a gynecologist or trained nurse 2:16 estrogen metabolite test BREAST THERMOGRAPHY Relies on a heat-sensing infrared camera to scan for abnormalities Noninvasive (no tissue is exposed to X-rays) Safe Does not involve any of the manipulation or squeezing of the breast that’s part of getting a mammogram - thermography simply requires having a few pictures taken at a distance of several feet Very effective at detecting abnormalities, or changes in tissue, long before mammography or other screening methods could Thermography detects changes (such as estrogen dominance) that may not show up on a mammogram for years. With thermography, one is able to pick up the problem at its earliest and most treatable stage. Breast thermography can find pre-cancerous conditions before a tumor forms. Studies show thermography can indicate a cancer may be forming up to 12 years before any other test can detect any problem. It gives you early warnings long before a tumor forms. The only tumors that are unlikely to show in thermograms are those that are slow-growing and not aggressive. Yet thermography cannot pinpoint the exact location of damaged or cancerous cells, so you still need additional procedures, such as mammography, to determine if an actual tumor is forming or has already formed, or to pinpoint the precise location of an existing abnormality. Another drawback: a lack of uniform regulation in equipment and training for diagnostic technicians—and insurance plans rarely cover its use. The most reliable site: http://www.breastthermography.com/ - helps find a good and reliable center near you • You should be acclimated in the room for at least 15 minutes after disrobing • There should be no draft or cold air on your body • The background color on your thermogram should be black – any other color means that the room is too warm • Your thermogram should be read and signed only by a board-certified health care provider who is licensed to diagnose, trained in breast imaging, and certified by an organization such as the one linked above – if your analysis is not signed, do not accept it I have lots and lots and lots more info ... but that's it for now to avoid overwhelming further. :grouphug:

Radiation Mammograms employ low-dose X-rays to examine the breast tissue. The more you expose yourself, the more damage your body endures. The earlier you begin screening mammography, the more radiation exposure you will experience and a high incidence of false-negative (and false-positive) readings because younger women typically have denser breast tissue, which makes accurate mammogram readings more difficult. In sum, routine mammography screening, particularly for younger or pre-menopausal women, may cause more harm than good. The pre-menopausal breast is highly sensitive to radiation, each rad exposure increasing the risk of breast cancer by one percent. This results in a cumulative 10 percent increased risk of breast cancer over ten years of pre-menopausal mammography. These risks are even greater for younger women subject to “baseline screening†The Nordic Cochrane Centre in Denmark found that mammograms may harm 10 times as many women as they help The researchers examined the benefits and negative effects of seven breast cancer screening programs on 500,000 women in the United States, Canada, Scotland and Sweden. The study’s authors found that for every 2,000 women who received mammograms over a 10-year period, only one would have her life prolonged, but 10 would endure unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. However, the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) breast screening program – which provides free mammograms for women over the age of 50 every three years – cited different statistics in defending its program. An NHS statement said the Department of Health’s advisory committee on breast cancer screening had conducted its own evaluation of the program, and found that screening prolonged the lives of five women out of every 2,000 over a 10-year period. A woman’s radiation dose from a typical mammogram is considerably more than from a typical chest X-ray. According to the US Department of Energy, a woman’s radiation dose from a typical mammogram is 2.5 mSv (millisievert or effective dose). By comparison, the effective dose from a chest X-ray is considerably less at 0.1 mSv. Whatever you may be told, refuse routine mammograms, especially if you are pre-menopausal. The x-ray may increase your chances of getting cancer. Mammograms squeeze the breasts so hard that encapsulated cancer cells can rupture, causing a dormant cancer to become active and grow. Since mammographic screening was introduced, the incidence of a form of breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS ) has increased by 328%. According to some health practitioners, this compression could cause existing cancer cells to metastasize from the breast site. There has been a large number of slow growing and benign growths, such as DCIS, that are diagnosed as a consequence of a screening mammography. Research has also found a gene, called oncogene AC that is extremely sensitive to even small doses of radiation. A significant percentage of women in the United States have this gene, which could increase their risk of mammography-induced cancer. They estimate that 10,000 AC carriers will die of breast cancer this year due to mammography. Limited in what they can find Mammograms are finding cancers that breast exams may miss, but they’re not finding minute cancers or pre-cancerous conditions. Thermography offers a safer method of evaluating breast tissue for abnormalities way before cancer begins – in time to change the inner environment and prevent breast cancer. Mammograms also carry a high rate of inaccuracy, both positive and negative. In other words, it sounds the alarm for cancer in up to 10 percent of women who don’t really have it, and doesn’t find it in 10 to 30 percent of women who actually do have it. In addition to annual radiation exposure from a screening mammogram, every false-positive mammogram reading often leads to a diagnostic mammogram and even more radiation exposure. Mammograms can only find cancer tumors that have already grown and reached a certain size. Breast cancer in young women is typically more aggressive than breast cancer in older women. This is because younger women who have breast cancer are more likely to have a genetic predisposition to the disease. While it's important to detect any cancer as early as possible, it's vital for women under the age of 50. That's because genetic cancers are often the fastest growing cancers. Most doctors will tell you mammograms are the best way to detect early breast cancer. But, unfortunately, mammograms aren't a reliable way to find small tumors. http://medicalconsumers.org/2001/12/01/a-critical-review-of-all-clinical-trials-shows-that-mammography-screening-could-cause-more-harm-than-good/

To the OP, I have lots of tips and info on lowering estrogen levels, one of my major concerns also. I can share that if you or anyone's interested. Okay, here goes. Again, not telling anyone to not have one. Personal decision. My dh read What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell, one of our favorite authors, and he has an entire chapter, or most of a chapter about mammograms in there. Very interesting. This is the only book of his that I have yet to read. Read and loved all the others. This book was brought to my attention on this forum (or maybe it was another forum) a while back. Again, I have lots and lots of info on prevention, diet, lifestyle, etc. if anyone's interested. I have posted it here before. You can do a search. I can also post again. When a test’s lifesaving benefit has been oversold to the public for over three decades—and the harms downplayed—any suggestions otherwise are often met with a firestorm of anger. To read what is arguably the first honest mammography information for women written by health professionals, go to the Web site of the Nordic Cochrane Centre (http://www.cochrane.dk), which also provides free access to the Cochrane review. The information is currently being translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish and Icelandic, and there are also plans for German and French translations. This from Peela - boy, do I miss Peela. :tongue_smilie: “I see the medical establishment as doing many, many amazing and virtually miraculous things in some areas. But I also see them as treating people as rather stupid and everyone the same - as in, all women need to get tested (with various recommendations from their 30s to 40s to 50s, yearly to twice a year), because most women won’t bother to check themselves monthly. There is literature out there showing that monthly checking is superior to all this medical interference, especially because of the radiation that mammograms cause- plus, as stated below, the other inherent dangers in mammograms such as bursting possible tumors, causing them to spread. Biopsies hold similar dangers. Yes....mammograms do catch some cancers. And yes, even doctors accept they also cause some. It's a statistics thing. They are always working with the masses, not individuals. Yet we are all individuals. I am someone who takes responsibility for my own health and I take it seriously. I check myself regularly- I know my own breasts better than any doctor - I know what they feel like intimately. Two years ago I went to my doctor for a women’s wellness check and my doctor reckoned she felt a possible lump. I couldn't feel anything, my husband could not feel anything, and I had to wait for 3 weeks of stress to get a mammogram. There was nothing. I have 43 year old firm breasts. She was not familiar with my breasts. So why would I trust my doctor again when my own intuition, my husband’s intuition, and our own fingers (which is all she used) could detect nothing? These things all feed on fear. And I encourage any woman at all who feel intuitively there might be a problem, to do something about it and not wait one more day....and I also encourage every woman to get REALLY in touch with her own body, and her own breasts. And to eat well and follow cancer prevention strategies. We are not victims here (the medical establishment tends to treat us as if we are)- there is a lot we can do to detect and prevent cancer OURSELVES....but because most women don't do that...we have massive government programs which actually financially benefit a lot of people. And I don’t feel that the individuals who run these programs have bad intentions at all...but I am cynical about the intentions of multi nationals and I am cynical about recommendations that rake in a lot of money and are so general they do not take individuals into account. I am into empowering women. I believe the medical establishment does not do that, generally speaking. We are taught to believe the latest study as fact, even though in 10 years, what is given as fact now may well be discredited completely. For example, there is a lot of info now about the dangers of mobile phone radiation, especially on children, while we have been told for years it is safe- just because there were no long term studies. Same with hormone replacement therapy. The issue isn't really mammogram or no mammogram, to me, because i wouldn’t want to discourage any individual from getting one if she somehow felt it was right for her to do so. The issue to me is whether you take responsibility for your own health, whether you are in tune with your own body, whether you love yourself enough to eat well and exercise, and have a healthy lifestyle...or at least be heading that way. I would rather see women take more responsibility and give up their power a lot less to the medical establishment including their local GP. We all have the internet...we can do the research. Many of us are experts in certain areas because our doctors do not have the time or inclination to research everything and stay up to date. We are disempowered. For some people, getting a mammogram might be a step toward taking some care of themselves, because they normally put themselves last on the list and would not know if their body changed. For others, such as myself, we already take responsibility, and take care, and are in tune and watch our bodies closely. I would not expose my healthy body to radiation unnecessarily, and to me, yearly mammograms in my 40s is very unnecessary when there are other options available. If I feel any possible issue, I will go for an alternative such as a thermogram...before a mammogram...or I might decide to just do a mammogram as a one off to see. It's the cumulative effect of year after year of mammograms I am concerned about, because radiation is not a healthy thing. Prevention is always better, of course, as well. Even doctors are now realizing how much health and lifestyle is involved in cancer. But they still focus on testing because it is something they can do. It is up to each of us to take responsibility and care for ourselves. I would not stress overly about getting any single mammogram. Either do it or don’t...it will most likely NOT be a life and death thing either way. However, I would encourage you not to believe blindly what the doctors tell you, and to eat well even though you smoke, and to look at giving up smoking because that is a huge health risk. You can do it. I would just encourage you to take care of yourself, because you really do deserve it- everyone does- and no one- no doctor, no mammogram, no well-meaning advice- can substitute for genuine self care. We women tend to put ourselves way too low on our list of daily priorities when we should be putting that oxygen masks on ourselves first- feed ourselves well, exercise well, take rest time and self care time as a priority in our lives. These will go a long way towards cancer prevention AND cancer detection. When you get in tune with yourself, you do notice when things change. But I wouldn't also dream of discouraging you from getting a mammogram if you feel it would be a good idea, for you, in your particular situation.†“I agree that no one should take anything said here as definitive health advice. My encouragement is always to do your own research and that might also include using doctors and conventional therapy. I just suggest that one takes responsibility for oneself, which is something that the medical profession in general actively discourages in many ways. The one issue I haven't see touched upon, and i dont know if it might hit a sore spot in some people, but, no one is a complete victim here and cancer does not develop in an isolated environment without its ground being fertile, so to speak. Thats not to say anyone is to blame- its not about blame- its about taking responsibility anyway. There are many causes to cancer and some are well within our control- diet and lifestyle, exposure to radiation and toxins, stress etc The medical profession still barely acknowledges that, yet it is well researched. My approach as a preventative one is not to rely on mammograms because they are truly not a preventative measure- they are just the best the medical system has come up with- they are diagnostic, not preventative. If they find something, you already have it. My encouragement is to take a preventative and proactive approach, and I think mammograms might provide for some people a false sense of security- that is the other side of the coin. They might feel they are taking care of themselves by having a mammogram- but taking care of oneself involves a lot more than that. And anyone who took themselves off for a mammogram at a younger age, and was positively diagnosed, might well have been following an inner knowing on some level, and that is always to be trusted. I would do the same, no matter my "beliefs" around it all. I understand many people might not trust "inner knowings" but I know many people have saved their own lives because of them. It’s a complex issue and every situation is individual.â€

Just finished his book - Why We Get Fat, which I really, really enjoyed - very eye-opening, very scientific, well-researched and insightful. I'm embarrassed to be starting yet another diet/eating thread. Questions for those who have read and possibly/hopefully tried his approach: * Did you lose weight? * Any other benefits? * Is it relatively easy to follow, practical, etc. * Any other books or sites you can recommend? Does one follow Atkins or something? I'm a bit confused here, because, it seems that he doesn't go the whole 9 yards to recommend any specific book, etc. This is obviously not a diet book, per se. * Did you regain the weight as soon as you came off the program - birthdays, vacations, etc. * Did you go completely no-carb, or just more moderate? * Anything else you can kindly take the time to share? ETA: * What does maintenance look like? Are you completely no-carb forever or low-carb? Maintenance concerns me the most. All or most diets work while we're on them. It's the keeping it off that's the hardest part. * I'm wondering if I can cut out the main culprits - sugar, all refined carbs (bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, etc.), but still have some fruit? I love fruit ... but that may be part of the reason why it's a problem for me. I've never liked dieting. Loathed it in fact. But the older I get, the harder time I have with weight loss and maintenance. I believe that so much of what he says is relevant to me. I wish I could follow a more moderate approach - NoS, etc. - but those don't do anything for me. This is all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions in a while. Thank you for listening. :)

I'm almost 44 and have yet to have one. I do daily self-checks and go for thermograms about once a year. I've only one thermogram so far, mind you. I'll be doing that every year. Not sure when I'll start mammograms. Maybe 50, maybe later. Definitely if I notice anything. I spent a long, long time researching and reading up on all this - weighing all the pros and cons. I recommend you do this also. I can share my detailed info with you if you wish. There are lots of threads on this here and you can do a search as well. Peela, and I, and a few others, were in the non-mammogram group - the ones who haven't ruled them out completely, but won't have them quite yet. I'd never tell someone to not get one. That's their own personal decision. One should do what one feels comfortable with. Again, if you'd like me to share my info, let me know and I can post here.

Priceline is my first choice usually. Hotwire is my 2nd choice. PL is better for: * suburbs and not-so-big cities - particularly with families. PL is notorious for giving small beds (and only one bed) in big cities and in Europe. I can't stand them for that. * usually get better deals on PL * often are nicer hotels, I think. Some Hotwire hotels, particularly in Europe, leave much to be desired. Hotwire is great for not worrying about getting only one bed. Thanks for the reminder. I need to start organizing our summer trip soon and I really, really don't feel like it. :glare: :tongue_smilie:

Thank you all so much. :) Yes, I think we stayed at this one or another one across the street when we were there a few years ago. Yes, convenience is a huge factor for us. That, and obviously, safety. Thank you so much. I'm going to look into it. :D Thank you so much for your very helpful and detailed reply. Copied and pasted it all to go over with dh. We won't be renting a car for this part of our vacation. Yes, please do share the limo company name if you can, or PM me if you feel more comfortable doing that. I just realized that we land in La Guardia, but we do leave for another destination a few days later via Newark. Thank you. This is very helpful. I won't be cooking. I loathe it in the best of times, but having a fridge might be nice. I wish. :lol: :grouphug: :lol:

No desire. Costs too much and probably quality of life will go down. I don't want to be overly dependent on others to take care of me - diapers and all the other not-so-fun stuff (aches, pains, etc.). Off to read responses from others. :)

nm - diet confusion going on here. Just feeling far too overwhelmed.

And pinterest of course. LOVE pinterest. :)

I know that I personally don't have all my books (my goal is 26 ~ 1 book every 2 weeks) be in the challenging category. In fact, these days, few of them are challenging. :grouphug: To me, you should read what interests you, what you love.

We hope to be in the Manhattan area sometime this summer. Much as we would like to, we would prefer to not stay in Manhattan, since the Priceline hotels there give very small rooms and don't really cater to families. This is common in very big cities and particularly in Europe. Anyway, which of these areas are easiest to get into Manhattan (public transport) and obviously closest, etc.? Jersey City - I think this is where we stayed a few years ago. Nice. Very close to Manhattan. Meadowlands - Rutherford Newark - not too safe? :glare: Newark Airport (EWR) - Elizabeth Secaucus - North Bergen Short Hills - Summit West Orange Thank you so much. :)

Quick Callanetics: Stomach "Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." - Jim Ryun

:iagree: I love the large pool here, the traffic, and all the fabulous responses. I used to be, but I had to stop since I really dislike the layout of the emails. I'm big on presentation. Part of the reason that I stopped with the Sonlight forums was that their new layout was ugly. I've been on the FIAR forums for almost 10 years, but I'm less active there now. The group there is much, much smaller and there is far less diversity. I go to VideoFitness.com - but am more of a lurker there. Here is my absolute favorite place. :D I love Good Reads also, but that's not really a forum.

Kirsten, you're most welcome. Hope that these things help. Seems like you're doing a lot of good things already. :) Here's some info on spider veins, most of it very similar to the tips for varicose veins. Haven't had time to fully organize all my notes yet. Horse Chestnut Extract - that contains 50-90 mg of aescin, 2-3 times a day. Avoid if pregnant, or suffering from liver/kidney disease. Horse Chestnut Extract prevents and treats varicose veins. Aescin tones floppy vessels. 500 mg once a day Eat a diet rich in Vitamin C and bioflavonoids (found in the white pith of citrus fruits). Or take 1000 mg 3 times daily, to strengthen blood vessels and capillaries. Purplish-blue fruits, such as blueberries and plums are especially rich in natural antioxidants. Can also supplement with grapeseed extract, citrus bioflavonoids, or vitamin C. Elevate your legs above your heart regularly throughout the day. If you experience any pain or tenderness in the veins, see your doctor to rule out the possibility of vein thrombosis (blood clot), which could break loose and block blood flow to vital organs like the lungs, heart, or brain. Legs-up-the-Wall Pose Foods rich in Vitamin K – dark leafy greens – spider veins can signal a vitamin K deficiency Dry body brushing helps with circulation, regular massage and rebouding should help also. I try to dry body brush every single morning - either before showering or exercising - whichever comes first. CAUSES: Prolonged standing Too much sun exposure Pregnancy Menopause Heredity About 40% of women suffer from varicose veins. Regular aerobic exercise several times a week will get the muscles working and blood pumping through the tiny valves to make the condition much less noticeable. Some say that taking supplemental vitamin K-2 can help the varicose veins from developing and it will also help to protect the veins that are already there while starting the repair process. I honestly don't know. I would look at reviews, etc. Plus, see how much is included. Personally, I would go for the highest dosage to get maximum benefits. I don't think that anything with a low dosage will make a difference. Personally, I would go with both - supplements and topical application.

Essentrics: Flexibility Workout for Athletes

I agree. I love the old Disney stuff. Love Pixar and much of the new stuff also, but the old Disney movies are in a whole class by themselves. :)

I saw this on a few news sites today also. Scary.

If you feel like it (after the book, of course :D), the movie (the old classic one) is nice. We've seen it a few times. It was filmed very near us - in Tobago.

Kirsten, I haven't tried it, but have heard and read that it can help in several places. Here's all the info I have. I assume that you're talking about varicose veins. I have info on that (below). I also have info on spider veins, which I can post later if you wish. I like vitacost.com and amazon for most of my supplements. The reviews are often helpful. Varicose Veins are veins that are widened, distended, and, in some cases, twisted. More common symptoms include dull nagging aches and pains and a feeling of heaviness in the legs. EAT MORE Consume a diet that’s high in fiber. Try sticking to a low-sodium, high-fiber diet Eat more ginger, garlic, and onions. These foods help to break down the fibrin surrounding the varicose vein. People with varicose veins have a decreased ability to break down this substance. Garlic and onions have an anti-clotting factor. Ginger has anti-inflammatory and anti-clotting properties. Bromelain (found naturally in pineapples) aids in activating a factor that promotes the breakdown of fibrin. Bromelain also prevents the formation of blood clots. Dark-colored berries (cherries, blackberries, and blueberries) contain anthocyanins and proanthocyandins which may help to strengthen the venous wall and increase the muscular tone of the vein. Cantaloupe is a source of beta-carotene (healing properties) and has an anti-clotting factor. Kale, parsley and collard greens are rich in beta-carotene, a healing nutrient. EAT LESS Excess salt can cause swelling SUPPLEMENTS Horse Chestnut 300 mg twice daily – be sure the herb is standardized to contain 50 mg escin per dose. Horse Chestnut Extract – you can take horse chestnut extract containing 10-20 mg of escin three times a day, or apply a salve with 0.5-1.5% escin topically. Horse Chestnut seals leaking capillaries and improves the elasticity of veins. Gotu Kola tones the vascular system and improves circulation. Look for an extract that provides a daily dosage of 30-60 mg triterpenic acids. Gotu Kola has reduced cellulite in 80% of the people who tested it. The participants took a gotu kola extract containing 30 mg of triterpenes three times a day. Both of the above have been used successfully for varicose veins as well as for cellulite. Butcher’s Broom contains anti-inflammatory and vessel-constricting compounds. Use an extract standardized to contain up to 11% ruscogenin at a dosage of 100 mg 3 times a day. Bromelain supplements if pineapples are not a possibility -aids in activating a factor that promotes the breakdown of fibrin. Bromelain also prevents the formation of blood clots. Vitamin E is a healing nutrient. Only take d-alpha, not dl-alpha (the synthetic form). Zinc is another healing nutrient. OTHER TIPS Exercise regularly Maintain a healthy weight Avoid crossing your legs, which puts pressure on veins Avoid standing in one place too long. Wear support stockings if you need to.

Oh, you are lucky! :D Dd loves graphic fiction also. Non-fiction ... I also have a very hard time with them, other than back in the day when I was reading all the pregnancy, nursing, and baby care books out there ;). The only non-fiction books that I've read that I can think of that didn't feel too non-fiction-ish - The Geography of Bliss and Nothing to Envy. Oh, I also enjoyed Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Mindset was very good also. And I just love Malcolm Gladwell. Yes, I glanced at it this morning and am going to bookmark it. :) Nice. :) No, I think Stacia was the first one who mentioned it to me. She read it a while back. It had been on my never-ending wish list for the longest while.

Unfortunately, no library here. Kindle, a few measly bookstores here (more and more pitiful these days), and Book Depository. I spend a lot on books. But at least I love it, for the most part. I really dislike it when I purchase a book and I don't like it much. Kindle freebies are usually not good. I really hate the fact that Kindle books cost so much.

I like your list (haven't included it all in the above quote ;)). Many of your titles are ones that look interesting, both to me and to our dd. I've sent her links to some of your books and I'm quite sure she'll ask me to order them. :)

Will be going swimming within the next half hour or so. Can't wait. :)