That’s Interesting

I watched a PBS nature show with my son yesterday. Sorry, I don’t remember what the title was. One segment featured the Tasmanian Devils of Australia. Apparently they are being ravaged by a disease that is threatening their population. Their numbers are dropping dramatically because of it. Although they didn’t make any mention of possible causes of the disease, they did mention one of their habits is dumpster diving. The little devils like to snack on discarded people food. After that they named the disease they had been referring to – lymphatic cancer.

They briefly mentioned that they were raising some orphaned devils in captivity, meaning their diet is more controlled – no dumpster diving for them. And so far, those devils have remained free of the disease. Hmmmm. This was a short segment without much detail. But I couldn’t help but wonder if there might be some connection between the dumpster diving habit and the cancer. I don’t really know anything about how food is processed in Australia, whether they have similar issues as we do here in the US with how crops and animals are raised for our food. I couldn’t possibly be the first person to wonder if there’s a connection. Surely it’s being considered. But, I thought it was interesting.

Not Gonna Do It!

I’ve been dreading turning 40 for nearly four years now, since I turned 35. Do you know why? It’s not a fear of getting old, so much. After all, what’s the alternative of growing older? No, it’s a little medical procedure that’s been preached at me for years, having my first mammogram. Yup. And my dread was growing as 39 looms ever closer this year, which would put me one year away from having to do it. Well, I’ve just decided I’m not gonna do it. Absolutely not.

For years I’ve kept my ears perked just in case a story broke telling of an alternative. But I haven’t heard any such thing, until last week while listening to Natural Solutions Radio when the show host mentioned thermograms. The thing is, this is nothing new. It seems the basic concept has been around for a long time. Leaves me wondering why I haven’t heard of it. It is a noninvasive procedure that apparently gives better results than mammograms. I’m definitely going to find out more about this, and how I can opt for a thermogram over a mammogram.

There are several articles regarding mammograms on the Natural Solutions Radio website that give plenty of reasons to avoid having a mammogram, aside from my own anxiety over the pain and discomfort of it. Check out Mammograms Offer No Health Benefits.

Since then, other doctors have begun to assert that in addition to failing to offer protection, mammograms — which involve exposing patients to radiation —may actually increase women’s risk of cancer. 

“The latest evidence shifts the balance towards harm and away from benefits,” said Dr. Michael Baum of University College in London. 

According to Canadian columnist Dr. W. Gifford -Jones, women between the ages of 40 and 49 who have regular mammograms are twice as likely to die from breast cancer as women who are not screened.

If you click the women’s health category, you’ll find several more articles specifically regarding mammograms or mammography. And here is another article on Thermography that has more information regarding breast screening and answers my earlier question of why I hadn’t heard of it. If you’re female, this is certainly something to investigate and seriously consider. I know I am.