Mammography Hoax American Cancer Society (ACS) Epstein, Samuel Radiation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Risks of Mammography: Hidden Role of the American Cancer
Society
http://world-wire.com/news/0911240002.html
CHICAGO, IL, November 24, 2009 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The series of recent
articles on mammography which report the harm done by overscreening, written by
New York Times columnist Gina Kolata, as well as in other newspapers, have made
no reference to the critical role of the American Cancer Society, warns Samuel
S. Epstein, M.D., chairman of the Cancer
Prevention Coalition.
Five radiologists have served as presidents of the American Cancer Society (ACS).
In its every move, the ACS promotes the interests of the major manufacturers of
mammogram machines and films, including Siemens, DuPont, General Electric,
Eastman Kodak, and Piker.
This bias hypes mammography, which Dr. Epstein and Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D. of the
International Physicians for Humanitarian Medicine emphasize is an avoidable
cause of breast cancer.
"The mammography industry conducts research for the ACS and its grantees, serves
on its advisory boards, and donates considerable funds," they warn. "DuPont also
is a substantial backer of the ACS Breast Health Awareness Program; sponsors
television shows and other media productions touting ACS literature for
hospitals, clinics, medical organization, and doctors; produces educational
films; and aggressively lobbies Congress for legislation promoting the
nationwide availability of mammography services."
In virtually all its actions, the ACS has been and remains strongly linked with
the mammography industry. Meanwhile, it ignores or attacks breast self
examination (BSE), following training by expert nurses or clinicians, which is
the safe and effective alternative, say Drs. Epstein and Bertell.
ACS promotion continues to lure women of all ages into mammography centers,
leading them to believe that mammography is their best hope against breast
cancer. A leading Massachusetts newspaper featured a photograph of two women in
their twenties in an ACS advertisement that promised early detection results in
a cure "nearly 100 percent of the time."
An ACS communications director, questioned by journalist Kate Dempsey, admitted
in an article published by the Massachusetts Women's Community's journal Cancer,
"The ad isn't based on a study. When you make an advertisement, you just say
what you can to get women in the door. You exaggerate a point...Mammography
today is a lucrative [and] highly competitive business."
Not surprisingly, the prestigious Chronicle of Philanthropy, the leading charity
watch dog, has warned that the ACS "is more interested in accumulating wealth
than saving lives."
This evidence on the complicity of the ACS was made available to Gina Kolata at
her request on October 20th, Dr. Epstein says. However, in her subsequent series
of articles, she made no reference to the role of the ACS in concealing the
dangers of mammography from the nation's women.
Routine mammography delivers an unrecognized high dose of radiation, warn Drs.
Epstein and Bertell. If a woman follows the current guidelines for premenopausal
screening, over a 10 year period she would receive a total dosage of about 5
rads. This approximates the level of exposure to radiation of a Japanese woman
one mile from the epicenter of atom bombs dropped on Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
“Mammography is a striking paradigm of the capture of unsuspecting women by
run-away powerful technological and global pharmaceutical industries, with the
complicity of the cancer establishment, particularly the ACS, and the rollover
mainstream media," they warn.
Drs. Epstein and Bertell emphasize, "Promotion of the multibillion dollar
mammography screening industry has also become a diversionary flag around which
legislators and women's product corporations can rally, protesting how much they
care about women, while studiously avoiding any reference to avoidable risks of
breast cancer.
Screening mammography should be phased out in favor of annual clinical breast
examination, (CBE), by a trained nurse and monthly breast self examination
(BSE), also following training by a trained nurse. This is an effective, safe,
and low-cost alternative, to diagnostic mammography, the two experts advise.
"Such action is all the more critical and overdue in view of the still poorly
recognized evidence that mammography does not lead to decreased breast cancer
mortality," they say.
Drs. Epstein and Bertell envision nationwide networks of BSE and CBE clinics,
staffed by trained nurses, saying, "These low-cost clinics would also empower
women by providing them with scientific evidence on the risks of breast cancer,
and also on its prevention."
This information is of particular importance, they say, in view of the high
incidence of breast cancer, which has increased by 18% from 1975, in spite of
the multi-billion dollar U.S. insurance and Medicare costs of mammography. Such
funds should be diverted to establishing BSE clinics nationwide and providing
public information on the wide range of avoidable causes of breast cancer.
This information was detailed in 2001 in a scientific article on "The Dangers
and Unreliability of Mammography: Breast Examination As A Safe Effective and
Practical Alternative," published in the prestigious International Journal of
Health Services as long ago as 2001. This was co-authored by Dr. Epstein, Dr.
Bertell, a leading international expert on radiation hazards, and the late
Barbara Seaman, the leader and founder of the women's breast cancer movement.
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. is professor emeritus of Environmental and Occupational
Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health;
Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition; and a former President of the
Rachel Carson Trust. His awards include the 1989 Right Livelihood Award and the
2005 Albert Schweitzer Golden Grand Medal for International Contributions to
Cancer Prevention. Dr. Epstein has authored 20 scientific articles and 15 books
on cancer prevention, including the groundbreaking The Politics of Cancer
(1979), and most recently Toxic Beauty (2009, Benbella Books:
www.benbellabooks.com) about carcinogens in cosmetics and personal care
products.
Rosalie Bertell, Ph. D. is an expert in Radiation Epidemiology. She is the
retired President of International Institute of Concern for Public Health,
Member of the Board of Regents of the International Physicians for Humanitarian
Medicine; Member of the European Committee on Radiation Risk and the Cancer
Prevention Coalition (U.S.). Dr. Bertell is a recipient of many awards,
including the United Nations Environment Program, Global Five Hundred Award and
the Right Livelihood Award (Alternative Nobel Prize). She is author of five
books and has published more than 100 professional papers and articles.
CONTACT:
Samuel S. Epstein, MD
Professor emeritus
Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health
Chairman, Cancer Prevention Coalition,
Chicago, Illinois 60612
Tel. 312-996-2297
Email: epstein@uic.edu
Web:
www.preventcancer.com
Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D.
Regent, International Physicians for Humanitarian Medicine
Founding Member European Committee on Radiation Risk
Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067
Tel. 215-968-4236
Email:
rosaliebertell@greynun.org
Web: www.iicph.org