Concerns About Mammography

As a breast oncologist and director of Long Beach Memorial’s comprehensive Breast Center I read Dr. Samuel Epstein’s article “Mammography Radiates Doubts” (Commentary, Jan. 28) with interest. Clearly we need to identify the cause of this disease that is affecting one in nine women. If an activist coalition can speed up this process, hallelujah!

Presently the best weapon we have to cure breast cancer is the mammogram machine. If we can discover a breast cancer before it can be felt, the chance of cure exceeds 90%. Using low-radiation dose film screen mammography, a vast majority of cancers can be found before they are palpated, alleviating the need for mastectomy and chemotherapy.

Epstein does a disservice to women in grossly overstating the risk of radiation involved in mammography. Once a woman is 35 years of age the radiation risk from receiving a yearly mammogram is minuscule. The “cancer Establishment” as Epstein calls us has become very concerned about the quality of mammography. In order to ensure high-quality, low-radiation dose film screen mammography a woman should make sure she receives her mammogram from an American College of Radiology-approved center.

JOHN S. LINK MD, Breast Oncologist

Medical Director, Memorial Breast Center

Long Beach