Err on side of caution

Re “The excessive focus on mammography,” Opinion, Nov. 3

I would rather my wife’s physician look hard -- and perhaps “over-diagnose” -- to find that cancerous lump than to have it grow into symptoms that could possibly cause death.

H. Gilbert Welch’s analogy of using Google Earth to search for the lakes in Utah -- the closer you zoom in, the more you find -- I understand. But can we tell which lake is deeper without taking a closer look? How do we know which lumps are potentially life-threatening? Of which can we say, “It’s too small to be of concern”? For the women in my family, it is better to err on the side of vigilance.

Donald E. Rodriguez

South Gate