Extensive mammograms can lead to BC?

[luckytoo]

I am a breast cancer survivor 2 times around thankfully: once in 1991 and again in beginning of 2007. I had a lumptectomy and total auxillery dissection followed by full radiation and 6 months of chemo.   The second BC had absolutely nothing to do with the first I was told.  I had to have a mastectomy as a result the second time around tho.  Both times stage 1.  I was borderline with having to have chemo and decided not to the second time around since they took such drastic measures, i.e. mastectomy.  My oncologist recommended Femara.  I made a decision not to take Femara as I read of the many side effects and don't want to add more problems to what I already have been thru.  I am taking a multi vitamin along with other vitamins as well, eating my fruits and veggies and exercising for my medicine.

I have to have yearly mamograms for the remaining breast.  For several years now there is question with microcalcifications deposits in the remaining breast.  Just recently I had my yearly mammogram and got the sh## scared out of me as there were more indepth mammograms I was put thru as a result of micro-calcifications.  One mammo was given lying down on my stomach, breast squeezed and mammogram taken.

My radiologist told me if he saw clusters, I would have to have a needle biopsy, if not, I would need another mamogram in 6 months.  Luckily, he did not see clusters, so I will need a mammo in 6 months.  He did the same thing last Dec and I got the cr@@ scared out of me, same radiologist reading my mammograms, I love him tho, he is sooo thorough.

I read a while back that mammograms can lead to BC due to the radiation.  Does anyone know the stats on this?  I tell you, they took mammograms over and over and over recently.  I'm concerned about the radiation I rec'd as a result of the numerous mammograms.  And I will get more radiation in 6 months as a result of more mammograms.  Input please?

[japdip]

I don't know any actual numbers and it would be very complicated. I do know that I have read that the radiation from a chest X-ray is equal to the amt. of radiation we receive naturally in about 10 days. In certain areas of the US the amt. we receive from our natural surroundings is higher than others. I've always looked at it as a necessary evil and without it we would most likely die before we were ever diagnosed. Don't forget that Radiation is a large part of treatment for breast cancer.  Regards ....

[luckytoo]

hi japdip,
Do you know the stats on radiation exposure from x-rays?  You say any exposure to radiation is listed as an increased risk for developing breast cancer but minute.  How minute? This year I had numerous x-rays, on hip, neck, leg including the bout the other day in having I would say at least 15 x-rays/mammograms to determine if I had "clustered" microcalcifications.  

[japdip]

You mention mammograms but any exposure to radiation is listed as an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This includes any type of X-ray; including dental X-rays. It would take an unreasonable amount of X-rays of all types to actually cause a cancer event. The exposure is so minute it's really nothing to worry about.