LETTERS: More mammogram letters and heroes
Mixed thoughts
on mammograms
The fallacy of early detection of breast cancer by mammography screening and its lifesaving effects for younger women at average risk, as well as women in general, is being recognized based on scientific evidence ["Findings on mammogram spark debate," News, Nov. 19]. This caps over 30 years of criticism of mammography's effectiveness and safety.
As an activist for prevention of breast cancer, I welcome this development as a wake-up call about carcinogenic environmental exposures that are at the heart of this disease. A large reduction in the use of mammograms for mass screening will save lives and suffering just by reduction in one of those environmental factors - the cumulative radiation doses from repeated breast X-rays.
It is time to look into alternative screening methods like thermography, which does not use ionizing radiation - a known cause of breast cancer.
Miriam Goodman
Huntington
I've been following the news on mammograms ["How panel made call on screening," News, Nov. 23].
If this advisory panel were convened to decide how often (and early) men should undergo examinations to detect prostate cancer, I wonder if the recommendations would have been so contradictory and nebulous.
Women will do whatever it takes to detect and combat breast cancer. We will make our own decisions and don't need a panel of experts telling us what to do.
We know we have to do the right thing for ourselves. Beth Rose Feuerstein
Long BeachWhat's a hero?
Ronald R. Griffin seems to feel that a hero is a person who fights ["I will never hug him again, but he died a hero," Opinion, Nov. 22].
I am a retired chief engineer from the U.S. Merchant Marine. I was taught that a hero is not the guy who dives into the engine room of a sinking ship to close the valve that was flooding.
The hero is the engineer who shut the valve yesterday.
Dennis Dunne
SeldenA man who gives
back and back
I read the story about Frank Sinisi and the work he has done for those less fortunate than himself ["There to meet a community's needs - Pronto," Act II, Nov. 21].
He is an example of someone who shares his gifts and talents. So often people are idolized for their athletic ability and paid millions of dollars. We have learned that sometimes these individuals are not worthy of the pedestal some put them on. And then you have Sinisi.
Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back." When Sinisi gets up, he hits a home run.
Jane M. Grogan
Lynbrook
