Mammograms/Breast Cancer

[debknott]

I know that Dr. McD is generally against mammograms, but that he advises surgical removal of cancerous tumors with clear margins. If a doctor feels a lump in the breast, what does Dr. McD advise one does next? Would a mammogram then be the way to diagnose the problem? Or does he advise some other diagnostic tool?

In addition, I think he referred to some studies indicating not to pursue treatment when one is older. I am 66. And I remember that he advised his own father not to pursue treatment for testicular cancer.

I searched the website pretty well, but I am still not clear on his advice, and how to apply it to myself.

Thanks for any answers you can offer.

Deborah

[f00die]

hes not against mammograms as a tool
hes against them being routinely used
to look for lumps in people without symptoms
if a doctor has found a lump
follow the clinicians procedures
keeping in mind the advice
on lumpectomies vs mastectomies
and it was prostate cancer
not testicular cancer

[debknott]

Thanks Foodie. Even as I was typing, testicular cancer did not sound right, but I couldn't think of the correct cancer.

[Lyndzie]

Hi Deb. I saw your post to Jeff. I had not responded because I do not have any links to provide, but am happy to share my understanding. I believe a mammogram may be of help AFTER a lump is felt, and that depending on the type of cancer, a lumpectomy with clear margins is oftentimes the best course of treatment. You could potentially just start with an ultrasound to rule out something benign like a cyst. A biopsy may be useful.

BUT, I would caution against assuming it is slow growing. There are many types of cancer, and diagnostic tools after initial suspicions are good for that. You might want a phone consult with one of the docs once you have a firm diagnosis.

Pam Popper recently spoke on the topic, and seems to have similar opinions to Dr. McDougall. https://youtu.be/V6yHkvWQNCg

[americaninca46]

Hi Deb, Here is a link to Dr. McDougall's article on breast cancer. I hope it works for you. If not, I did get it off his website.
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2015nl ... ancer2.pdf
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011at the age fo 64. I found the lump. Then went to the Dr. who confirmed the lump. Was sent for a mammogram and an ultrasound. Had a lumpectomy and the removal of a few lymph nodes. It was invasive ductal carcinoma. the most common cancer in post menopausal women. I opted out of chemo and radiation to the dismay of my Dr. He practically disowned me.
Then a number of years later i read this article and was pleased to know that i had done the right thing according to Dr. McDougall. So far so good. I have been eating the McDougall way for the last 2 and a half years. (wish I had started sooner) Hope this helps.
Rebia

[John McDougall]

Screening (like most mammography) is different than tests used after diagnosis.

On screening and other breast cancer topics: See:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/educ ... st-cancer/

On treatment: https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2017nl/sep/170900.htm

General information on Breast Cancer:

The treatment of breast and other cancers with my starch-based diet has been a focus of my medical attention for more than 35-years. Many people have recovered their health with no cost or side effects. Please begin with my February 2015 newsletter: https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2015nl ... cancer.htm. In general, for standard medical therapy, all I recommend is a lumpectomy with clear margins - no radiation, no lymph node dissection, and no routine chemotherapy. Sometimes I recommend some hormone therapy. Watch my video on “Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Common Cancers:” https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/educ ... n-cancers/.

Read my Sept. 2017 newsletter on why not to have aggressive treatments, like mastectomy and/or radiation: https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2017nl/sep/170900.htm

On Diet and Cancer:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2015nl/feb/150200.htm
https://www.drmcdougall.com/2016/09/30/ ... ed-cancer/

Read my Hot Topics on breast cancer from my website.
Read The McDougall Program for Women and McDougall's Medicine - A Challenging Second Opinion (found in libraries and downloadable from my store). The chapter on breast cancer is found in my October 2015 newsletter: https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2015nl ... ancer2.pdf) Even though the materials in these books are a few years old, they are accurate and current (with few exceptions).

Read thoroughly the National Institutes of Health (NIH) paper: http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/Cancernet/CDR0000062787.html. Susan G. Komen is also a website with excellent information:
(http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/FactsForLife.html) Effects of anti-estrogen therapy (Tamoxifen) are found here: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Table ... ancer.html
Take your time making decisions.

John McDougall, MD

[debknott]

Thank you, Dr. McDougall, for responding to my questions. I'm still reading your links and thinking. As you say, I don't feel rushed to decide what to do. During an annual exam my doctor insisted on doing a breast exam when I said I did not want another mammogram. (I had one about five years ago and it was clear.) During her exam she thought she felt something in the left breast, so prescribed me a second mammogram. I think maybe she is just overreacting, or concerned about malpractice. (I would never sue her or anyone else in such a case.) I plan right now to continue reading your information, thinking, and praying for guidance. I don't think there is anything wrong with my breast, and I don't feel like having a mammogram to make my doctor happy. My husband may insist that I follow through when I tell him what I am thinking, in which case I'll have the mammogram.

Again, thanks for responding.

Deborah

[debknott]

Also, thank you Lyndzie and Rebia for your kind advice.

[MikeyG]

...
Read my Sept. 2017 newsletter on why not to have aggressive treatments, like mastectomy and/or radiation: https://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2017nl/sep/170900.htm
...

Thanks for weighing in, Dr. McDougall.

In your September 2017 newsletter, you made this comment:

"The treatment of disease spread to other parts of the body, systemic disease, with hormone medications and chemotherapy will be addressed in a future newsletter."

As I am not sure you have shared your recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of systemic disease with hormone medication and chemotherapy since that September 2017 newsletter, I would be very interested in learning your perspective, and I'm sure I am not the only one.

Regardless, thanks to you and everyone on your team for providing us with such a generous and evidence-based resource for our health-related questions in your free resources and support. While countless people undoubtedly benefit from your commercial resources, your decision to share your information for free likely helps an exponentially larger audience.

I hope that you and everyone reading this are having a wonderful day. Thanks, again, for all that you do.

[John McDougall]

As of September 2017 I stopped writing the monthly newsletters Mary and I started in 1986. After 33 years, without missing an issue, I found that I had said enough by then.

You never know what the future brings.

John McDougall, MD

[Lyndzie]

Thank you, Dr. McDougall, for responding to my questions. I'm still reading your links and thinking. As you say, I don't feel rushed to decide what to do. During an annual exam my doctor insisted on doing a breast exam when I said I did not want another mammogram. (I had one about five years ago and it was clear.) During her exam she thought she felt something in the left breast, so prescribed me a second mammogram. I think maybe she is just overreacting, or concerned about malpractice. (I would never sue her or anyone else in such a case.) I plan right now to continue reading your information, thinking, and praying for guidance. I don't think there is anything wrong with my breast, and I don't feel like having a mammogram to make my doctor happy. My husband may insist that I follow through when I tell him what I am thinking, in which case I'll have the mammogram.

Again, thanks for responding.

Deborah

Do you feel a lump?

[viv]

Hi Deb,
If it were me I would get the second mammogram to confirm the diagnosis. I think the not knowing is stressful. 12 years ago I had a mastectomy but fortunately no chemo or radiation. I refused the prescribed 5 year treatment of Armidex (stops production of estrogen) because I read about the many side effects online. I've been on the McDougall Diet for the last six years and I feel wonderful with no sign of a recurrence. If I did have a recurrence I may have the surgery only but definitely no chemo/radiation/hormone therapy. But I don't worry about that, plants keep me in perfect health!
Viv

[debknott]

Do you feel a lump?

No, I can't feel anything.

[debknott]

Just to follow up, I did have a Tomosynthesis test (the newest step up from a mammogram) and Ultra Sound. They seemed to take forever doing the tests, but the net result is that I have nothing; no cancer, no cyst, no lump, absolutely nothing. Praise God!

[Lyndzie]

Great news!