Addicted to Mammograms

Since 1971 it has been known that regular mammograms will only save lives of women 50 or older because “you would need to screen 1,900 women in their 40s for 10 years in order to prevent one death from breast cancer”. Recently, the United States Preventive Services Task Force’s once again recommended that women begin to get regular mammograms starting at age 50 not 40. Despite this recommendation, doctors continue to regularly screen women in their 40s for breast cancer. Since 1977 the National Cancer Institute has shown concern that women getting regular mammograms beginning in their 40s are exposed to too much radiation. They have determined that the exposure to the radiation is more dangerous then the risk of breast cancer because the deadly cause of breast cancer is due to metastasizes, not the breast tumors themselves. The author believes that patients and doctors continue to scan younger women for breast cancer because they feel that it gives them a feeling of control over the disease. He suggest that time and money would be better spent looking for a cure for the disease instead of performing unnecessary tests.

This article pertains to biomedical engineering because it shows a need for a new procedure involving new technology. As engineers, we will be capable of fixing problems such as this one by recognizing the issues present with current technology. It is necessary to develop new imaging processes that do not involve radiation or other things that can damage to body. This article also stresses the importance of research and the role that it plays in finding a cure for cancer.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/20/opinion/20aronowitz.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1