si vales bene est

This week's big medical news has been the change in recommendations for women getting mammograms (http://www.wtop.com/?nid=106&sid=1814506). I realize that being male means I am completely unqualified to discuss this subject. Therefore, I will do my best to refrain from opinion. Simply allow me to make two points:

To begin, this is not the first time a professional group expressed doubt in the effectiveness of mammography. Nearly seven years ago, the PDQ Screening and Prevention Editorial Board found flaws in studies that were the basis of the recommendations at the time, thus causing them to amend the recommendations (http://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/24/health/24BREA.html). In fact, some members "thought it was unlikely that there were benefits that could make the test worthwhile."

Second, some doctors have become worried about the radiation exposure due to medical imaging (http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE5226IR20090303; http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/health/research/27scan.html?emc=eta1) Hundreds of thousands are annually exposed to more radiation from diagnostic tests than would be allowed for nuclear power plant employees. This alone could result in tens of thousands of additional cancers.