The recent huge flap about a report on mammograms for women under 50 and over 40 has caused quite a stir. What they are not talking about is what constitutes a real life mammogram. A woman’s individual breast is currently being squished between two huge blocks and then radiologically looked at. The painful process of squeezing the breasts is not being talked about. The reality that this annual squishing is not only very painful but can in fact…..dare we say it….cause CANCER by testing trauma!
In a day and age that prides itself on new technology, it is quite amazing that medical science cannot find a accurate non-invasive way of checking breasts for cancer tumors….it’s ridiculous. As we watch the likes of the Larry Kings, Anderson Cooper and a long variety of other news people who could care less what or how painful the testing may be or if in fact “the testing” could cause more harm than good. We advise these wonderful news men to volunteer for a Penagram. This could be accomplished by using the same procedure for their Penis. The penis would be squeezed between two blocks….and then radiologically looked at for tumors of the penis. Individual biopsies could then be taken of suspected tumors. Every time one of these procedures was done would require a month to heal. This procedure might be started at age 30 or younger. Putting the penis in a vise or putting the female breast into a vise………seems more like a throw back to the Spanish Inquisition than modern medicine. Larry King and Anderson Cooper are not asking why this is considered “the only” responsible procedure for cancer detection of the female breast. Sanjay Gupta a medical doctor/news reporter and newsperson…..isn’t asking that question either. Either is the AMA!
Professor Devra Davis of the University of Pittsburgh has been fighting for years to change the procedure for mammography. There are non-invasive methods that optically look at the breast without it being squeezed or physically harmed. Self and Physician Examination of the breast has yeilded as many suspected tumors as years of annual mammography testing of the same subjects. There is little doubt that heredity and environmental issues have affected many subjects of breast tumors. The sterile opposition to changing the mammogram procedures – to less invasive – keep touting that the Insurance Companies just want to save money and not pay for the testing. The reality is…….that unless any prospective tumor becomes a candidate for biopsy…..the reality will be not determined.
Let us all please call for a non invasive, observable procedure for finding possible cancer tumors of the breast or other areas of human body. It is not acceptable to believe this current arcane method should remain the standard without any competition. Unacceptable. Depending on family history, birth issues and environmental exposures……even a 12 year old should be a candidate for a painless and hold harmless application of medical technology. Diagnosing any health concern should not be a question of age – only the proper application for discovery without harming the patient.
Ummmmm….I’ve never heard of someone getting a tumor on his penis and even if it has happened, it isn’t as common as breast cancer.
Writers on this blog should just stick to their crazy politics. Don’t prove to the world that you are nuts in all other aspects of life as well.
As someone who has had mammograms, I would challenge the idea that they’re painful. The compression amounts to a few seconds of discomfort. Mammogram clinics should be next door to bars. Go to the bar and get anesthesized first.