10/18/2010 8:22 AMMaggie wrote:
On the Doctor Oz show, he talks about the increase rates of thyroid cancer due to mammograms. Is there anything than can be done to prevent this? M.S. Reply to this
10/22/2010 6:55 AM
Katherine M. Cyran MD wrote:
Dear Maggie There are no scientific studies demonstrating a relationship between routine mammography and thyroid cancer. In fact the American Thyroid Associated states that thyroid cancer is NOT caused by routine xrays (such as dental and mammogram). I believe the concern stems from the fact that the thyroid gland is sensitive to excess radiation, and there is an association with prior high doses of radiation and young age at exposure. Xrays used to be used to treat enlarged tonsils and adenoids in childhood, acne, and to measure foot size for shoes!! Of course, if concern remains it is reasonable to ask for a thyroid shield when having your mammogram performed, and digital mammography has 22% lower dose of radiation than film mammography. At WomanWise at EasternWoods Outpatient Center we offer digital mammography and have thyroid shields available. But the bottom line is the risk is very low, if not negligible, so do not let this deter you from getting your lifesaving mammogram every year!! Reply to this
10/22/2010 7:12 AM
Katherine M. Cyran MD wrote:
Most cases of breast cancer are not caused by a defective gene. Only 5-10% of breast cancer is. However, women who carry this defective gene have a very high risk for developing breast cancer, not only once (85% lifetime risk) but twice (60% risk for second breast cancer), and they often develop it at an early age-- 30% by age 40 and 50% by age 50! They also have a very high risk for developing ovarian cancer, which is hard to detect early and is often aggressive and advanced at diagnosis. Family members from the same blood line (mother's side or father's side) of an ndividual who carries the defective copy also have a 50-50 chance of carrying the defective copy.
Because there are things we can do to significantly reduce, or even eliminate the chance of developing these cancers it is extremely helpful to identify those people who carry the defective gene BEFORE they develop cancer so they can take steps to do so. We call these individuals "previvors"!
Fortunately there are some striking features of a patient's family history that allows us to identify someone who might be at risk for carrying the defective gene, and there is a test to find out if they do or not. Because the test is expensive we do not test everyone. Insurance companies will only cover those who meet certain criteria. The features we look for in someone's family history are multiple cases of breast cancer or multiple cases of ovarian cancer, or multiple cases of breast and ovarian cancer within one family line. Individuals or family members who develop breast cancer at an early age (under the age of 50), or develop breast cancer twice in one breast or in both breasts are also at risk.
It is important for women to start discovering and sharing their family history because it is the pattern over several generations that is very helpful.
At WomanWise at EasternWoods Outpatient Center we offer a questionnaire that helps us identify those women who may be at risk, and once identified, we can offer them information and counseling as well as testing. Our nurses are available to anyone who may be interested in further information so don't hesitate to contact them at WomanWise! Reply to this
What is your age & does anyone in your family have breast cancer
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I can not read the articles to comment on them. I see date publish but are not able to retrieve.
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On the Doctor Oz show, he talks about the increase rates of thyroid cancer due to mammograms. Is there anything than can be done to prevent this?
M.S.
Reply to this
Dear Maggie
There are no scientific studies demonstrating a relationship between routine mammography and thyroid cancer. In fact the American Thyroid Associated states that thyroid cancer is NOT caused by routine xrays (such as dental and mammogram). I believe the concern stems from the fact that the thyroid gland is sensitive to excess radiation, and there is an association with prior high doses of radiation and young age at exposure. Xrays used to be used to treat enlarged tonsils and adenoids in childhood, acne, and to measure foot size for shoes!! Of course, if concern remains it is reasonable to ask for a thyroid shield when having your mammogram performed, and digital mammography has 22% lower dose of radiation than film mammography. At WomanWise at EasternWoods Outpatient Center we offer digital mammography and have thyroid shields available. But the bottom line is the risk is very low, if not negligible, so do not let this deter you from getting your lifesaving mammogram every year!!
Reply to this
Most cases of breast cancer are not caused by a defective gene. Only 5-10% of breast cancer is. However, women who carry this defective gene have a very high risk for developing breast cancer, not only once (85% lifetime risk) but twice (60% risk for second breast cancer), and they often develop it at an early age-- 30% by age 40 and 50% by age 50! They also have a very high risk for developing ovarian cancer, which is hard to detect early and is often aggressive and advanced at diagnosis. Family members from the same blood line (mother's side or father's side) of an ndividual who carries the defective copy also have a 50-50 chance of carrying the defective copy.
Because there are things we can do to significantly reduce, or even eliminate the chance of developing these cancers it is extremely helpful to identify those people who carry the defective gene BEFORE they develop cancer so they can take steps to do so. We call these individuals "previvors"!
Fortunately there are some striking features of a patient's family history that allows us to identify someone who might be at risk for carrying the defective gene, and there is a test to find out if they do or not. Because the test is expensive we do not test everyone. Insurance companies will only cover those who meet certain criteria. The features we look for in someone's family history are multiple cases of breast cancer or multiple cases of ovarian cancer, or multiple cases of breast and ovarian cancer within one family line. Individuals or family members who develop breast cancer at an early age (under the age of 50), or develop breast cancer twice in one breast or in both breasts are also at risk.
It is important for women to start discovering and sharing their family history because it is the pattern over several generations that is very helpful.
At WomanWise at EasternWoods Outpatient Center we offer a questionnaire that helps us identify those women who may be at risk, and once identified, we can offer them information and counseling as well as testing. Our nurses are available to anyone who may be interested in further information so don't hesitate to contact them at WomanWise!
Reply to this