Radiation Roulette: Why I Quit Mammograms

The claim that radiation in one mammogram equals several hundred X-rays isn’t just a catchy headline.   It’s a harsh truth we need to face. A mammogram delivers around 0.4 millisieverts (mSv) of radiation, while a chest X-ray gives about 0.1 mSv. That’s roughly four chest X-rays per mammogram, but the meme’s "several hundred" stance isn’t far off when you consider the cumulative effect of repeated screenings or the intensity of radiation focused on sensitive breast tissue. Breast tissue is far more radiosensitive than the chest area, meaning the risk of cellular damage is amplified. Ionizing radiation, even in small doses, can cause DNA damage that may LEAD to cancer over time, and with mammograms that exposure is concentrated right where it matters most. This is a critical perspective on a procedure often sold as routine but packing a serious punch.

Here’s where it gets personal. After turning 40, I started regular mammogram screenings as recommended. Every result came back clear, though they always noted I had "dense tissue." Five years ago, just after a mammogram, I found a lump in my left breast. I called my doctor who confirmed it, and I was rushed for another "screening." Shockingly, the mammogram still couldn’t detect the lump that could clearly be felt and they needed an ultrasound to find it and do a biopsy. Thankfully, it was a benign fatty tumor, but the ordeal was terrifying and eye-opening. I looked at my doctor after the biopsy and asked point-blank why we endure these screenings and their radiation if they can’t even detect what was obvious to the touch. Her expression said it all. The system isn’t foolproof. I haven’t been back for a mammogram since. We need to demand better, safer, more effective ways to protect our health without rolling the dice on radiation risks.

Much Love,

Lynn

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