How does a person with ITP handle mammograms?

I have ITP and my doctor guilted me into going for a mammogram. Last time I had a mammogram (I won't say how long it's been . . .), "my girls" got bruised. That was back when I was "normal". I don't want to walk out of there with my chest looking like I'm attached to a couple of large plums. Seriously, I am a little concerned . . . Not to mention the fact if they do find something, I don't want to bleed to death from a mastectomy! Thanks in advance for any advice or input!

Hi Terry,

Here's just one article of many that discusses the dangers and inefficiency of mammograms.
I'm surprised that your doctor doesn't know about and recommend a Thermogram instead. It is painless, involves no radiation, No compression of the breast (which, in of itself can cause cancers in some), is less expensive and can detect changes long before they would be picked up by a mammogram. It's a simple and painless procedure.
Mammograms are outmoded and outdated. Some doctors do Thermograms, but more often you'll find them given at free-standing centers (and perhaps why your doctor doesn't suggest one.)
Here's a link to just one article-do a google search to find more:
www.amoils.com/health-blog/are-you-still-undergoing-regular-mammograms-or-have-you-changed-to-a-safer-form-of-screening/

Best wishes,
April

I'm sorry - I'd rather have bruised breasts than risk undetected breast cancer! Do you know anyone who has died due to breast cancer? I do.

I would seriously doubt your doctors would let you bleed to death if you had to have a mastectomy.

Obviously you are afraid to have a mammogram - this needs to be discussed with your doctor and the tech who does the mammogram.

What are your counts? A lot depends on that. If they are low, can you get them up for the mammogram?

My platelet count last Monday were at 91,000. They have been going down steadily; having them tested again tomorrow. And yes, I am scared of the mammogram, and yes, I am afraid of having surgery with this bleeding disorder. . . I really appreciate all of the input. I would like to hear more about thermograms if possible.

Hi Terry,

The article I sited above tells a bit about thermography. Did you get a chance to read it? (although I found that one of the links does not work properly).

Here is another link to an article that answers mos any question you may have on thermography:
naturalhealthcenter.mercola.com/services/thermography.aspx

I would highly recommend watching the YouTube video at the top of this article, as it's very informative and interesting.
Thermography is used to help detect many other reasons for inflammation: arthritis, lupus, TMJ, phlebitis, fibromyalgia, tooth abcess, vascular changes, etc. View both the video and the article for further information.

And, don't be intimidated by those who would dismiss your very valid concerns. The radiation from a mammogram can not only stimulate the growth of cancer cells, but it can also cause platelets to drop. Injury via compression to the breast is also known to cause many cancers. Thermography doesn't do any of this. And, thermography detects changes at the vascular level, so changes will be seen far earlier than with mammography. Earlier detection will allow you more time to take measures to reverse a beginning cancer, via diet, exercise, stress reduction and Vitamin D. Not to mention that madtectomy is a horrible, butchering done to women. It can be extremely bloody and a shocking wound to see. I know hey are not all that way, but the few I've seen are etched indelibly in my mind.

And, Terry, also know that there are many of us who have overcome cancer via natural methods. I am one of them. Inflammatory Breast Cancer is what I had. I used homeopathic medicines and it was mostly gone in two weeks--all gone in six weeks. If you aren't familiar with IBC, it is one of the worst types to have, as it is very aggressive and quite painful. Few survive it--most die within 5 years, usually less.
There are many other ways of treating cancer than the slash/burn/poison.
You may want to watch an amazing and inspiring video of Anita Moorjani, and how she healed from stage 4 cancer. She was hours from death, had a near-death experience...well, just watch it!
www.Anitamoorjani.com

As someone who carries the BRCA1(or 2, can't remember) gene, I don't hesitate to do the mammograms every year. I see an Oncologist once a year, do the die test every year and the mammograms. My mom was 75 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was found when she had her mammogram. She had some lymph nodes removed and had some radiation and has been cancer free for 6 years this March. It was a shock, since there was no history on her side of the family. It's all on my dad's. Yes, it's no fun having your boobs squished between two pieces of plastic, but I have never come away from a mammogram with bruising, even when my counts were low. The only thing I WILL NOT do, and my Oncologist knows this, is have an MRI. I don't like those machines.

I agree with Melinda, I doubt any doctor would let you bleed to death if you had to have a mastectomy. Maybe this thermogram that April is talking about is better, who knows? I wouldn't say mammograms are inefficient; it did find my mother's cancer and my cousins, and countless other womens'. Definitely talk to your doctor about your fears.

Just checked out the link from April.

I'm sorry, but I do know I had Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! It wasn't just pain deferred from my neck to a different area.

And after a mammogram, I can still have my tea and chew gum the next day. Don't need to avoid anything on the doctor's list.

Just my two cents. Everyone can make his/her own choice; I'll stick to my mammograms unless otherwise recommended by my doctor.

Cindy,
It was not being implied that everyone who has Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, really has referred neck pain--that was simply one example that shows how being able to see a visual image of the inflammation can help you and your doctor see what's really going on in your body. And, it does it with no pain, no humiliation and no danger from radiation. Thermography detects thermal changes long before (a year or more before) a mammogram will show any abnormality. And, if your mother was getting annual mammograms for some years, have you considered that the amount of radiation she got from those (which is cumulative), could have been a significant factor in her developing breast cancer? After all, we do know that radiation can cause cancer, that's a well-established fact. As I said, thermography seems to be superior in every way to mammography, so why not choose it? I am not suggesting that you do nothing. But, if there's a better, safer, more accurate, cheaper way, why wouldn't you choose it? And of course, as any imaging equipment is super expensive, it stands to reason that a doctor who has already invested in mammography equipment, will continue to recommend mammograms.

As far as avoiding tea, chewing gum, spicy foods, tight fitting clothing and a few other things, these only need to be avoided for the day prior to imaging. The reason is because these things could create temporary "hot spots" in the thermal imaging, that are not there from real metabolic changes, and could give false positives. Immediately after the imaging is over, you are free to eat whatever you want.

Well, I think Terry can decide for herself whether she'd want to persue the Thermography or go for the mammogram.

However, 91k is a decent count and I wouldn't hesitate to have a mammogram with that count. Ask the doctor and see what he says. Many procdures can be done with lower than normal counts...it all depends on what the procedure is.

I would not hesitate to get my yearly (sometimes every 6 months) mammogram. My platelets are always under 10K and have never bruised, I find the ultrasound more uncomfortable sometimes than the mammogram. Even if I did bruise it wouldn't bother me as it's something that needs to be done and the bruise will go away.

I've had 2 major surgeries and both times I went for 2 IVIG infusions which brought my platelets up to around 60K or 70K and had no issues. I'm not sure what's considered a "safe" count for major surgery.

Of course that doesn't mean that I wasn't incredibly worried about bleeding before I had the surgeries. Before one of them I was crying like a baby I was so worried.

Hope that helps you out some,

Kelly