Do Mammograms Save Lives? Former Breast Surgeon Dr. Jenn Simmons

Do mammograms actually save lives? And are some women being treated for breast cancers that would never have harmed them?

After 17 years as a breast surgeon and surgical oncologist, Dr. Jenn Simmons began questioning everything she had been taught about breast cancer screening.

In this provocative episode of the Body Freedom Podcast, Michele Scarlet and Dr. Simmons discuss why she changed her position on mammograms, the science of overdiagnosis, the risks of unnecessary treatment, and the difference between detecting cancer and saving lives.

They also explore breast cancer risk, genetics versus metabolic health, GLP-1 medications, radiation exposure, biopsies, and emerging alternatives to conventional breast screening, including QT ultrasound and tear-based risk testing.

This conversation challenges conventional thinking and gives women important questions to bring to their healthcare providers.

00:00 — Do Mammograms Really Save Lives?
01:35 — Who Is Dr. Jenn Simmons? Former Breast Surgeon
02:06 — Why Dr. Jenn Simmons Left Conventional Breast Surgery
05:42 — Do Mammograms Reduce Breast Cancer Deaths?
09:31 — What Is Breast Cancer Overdiagnosis?
12:18 — How Do Immune Health and Toxins Affect Cancer Risk?
16:17 — Why Are More Young Women Getting Cancer?
17:27 — Is Breast Cancer Genetic or Metabolic?
20:14 — GLP-1 Medications, Weight Loss, and Breast Cancer Risk
25:06 — Muscle Mass, Bone Density, Sleep, and Cancer Prevention
27:32 — Can Mammograms or Breast Biopsies Spread Cancer?
28:05 — Does Mammogram Radiation Increase Breast Cancer Risk?
31:52 — Radiation Therapy: Risks and Long-Term Side Effects
34:12 — Does Breast Cancer Surgery Address the Root Cause?
36:29 — What Are the Alternatives to Mammograms?
39:51 — Screening Mammograms vs. Diagnostic Mammograms
42:40 — What Are the Risks and Benefits of Mammograms?
45:33 — New Breast Cancer Screening Tests: QT Scan and Tear Testing
50:03 — Are Breast Biopsies Always Necessary?
52:17 — Can Lifestyle Changes Reduce Breast Cancer Risk?
54:26 — What Should Women's Breast Cancer Prevention Look Like?
56:03 — Dr. Jenn Simmons: Book, Podcast, and Where to Find Her

Struggling with cravings, food noise, or stubborn weight after 40?

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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@michelescarlet_

Website: https://michelescarlet.com

Instagram: @MicheleScarlet_

Website: https://perfectionimaging.com

Book: The Smart Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer

Podcast: Keeping A Breast with Dr. Jenn

Instagram: @drjennsimmons

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Dr. Simmons shares perspectives that differ from established breast cancer screening guidelines. Mammography is recommended by major medical organizations because evidence shows it can reduce breast cancer mortality, although screening also carries risks, including overdiagnosis. Some alternative screening methods discussed are not validated replacements for mammography. Consult your healthcare provider before making screening or treatment decisions.