Better mammogram system would help breast cancer fight

TO THE EDITOR:

In a tribute to my daughter, who lost her battle with cancer Aug. 28, 2007, I promised I would try to make a difference in some way in cancer awareness.

Gina Hodges’ birthday would have been Dec. 26. She would have been 46 years old. She wanted to live so badly. She went through all of the surgery, chemo and radiation.

I believe we need to start with the mammography part of the question. I believe the doctor who reads the mammograms should be a specialist. By that, I mean he should read only mammograms.

If the radiologist reads all X-rays, the probability of mistakes may be greater. The doctor who reads mammograms should specialize in the field of mammography. I don’t know if there is a field in that. If there isn’t, there ought to be.

How on earth this would be implemented, I don’t know. I believe there would be fewer false negatives and fewer false positives if this could possibly be put into action.

We, as women, have to speak out to anyone who will listen. Anyone interested in women’s healthcare, and especially breast health, needs to think about this and figure out what you, as an individual, can do. Far too many women are dying of breast cancer. If we can cut down the numbers of the fallen ones in this huge battle, it would be some kind of victory. After all, these women are someone’s mother, daughter, wife or loved one.

I am not a healthcare person, just a person who cares about the quality of healthcare we receive.

I am a mother who lost a daughter to breast cancer.

Effie Lowery

Alverson Road

Sparta