Despite the media blitz promoting mammograms as saving lives due to early breast cancer detection, there is a far less invasive and cost effective solution for the community at large, by every woman understanding the importance of regular breast SELF EXAMINATION, and how to do it.

Please visit this link to download your own copy of a BSE chart, get it laminated, and put it up somewhere handy near a mirror, to remind yourself to do it.

Remember, mammograms have their place in the scheme of things, but there’s no substitute for taking responsibility and knowing your own body and recognising if things are changing.

Mammograms don’t detect changes in the body until they have been present in the body for at least 8 - 10 years.

The University of Sydney have created an interesting  site that is called a decision aid, which is designed to help women decide if they should start having mammograms or not. It’s worth a visit just to see what information they offer, but part of my personal philosophy is to have a range of health options available at all times.

Consider adding thermal imaging to your breast care routine, as an alternative to mammograms, if you do not fit into a defined health risk category. They can detect subtle inflammatory changes within the first 12 - 18 months, and ultimately are a totally non - invasive true mass screening tool.