This link will take you to an e-mail message that I hope you will find useful and send out to everyone on your address book. It is the only way we will be able to stop what is happening to thousands of us; no, not bad doctors, just lack of oversight. No, not lack of money for radiologists to read mammograms, just disinterest, and again lack of oversight (everyone deserves to make a living yes, but if they complain about not making enough reading mammograms, drive by their homes—take a photograph and mail it to your breast radiologist and make certain that s/he is FDA approved to begin with, to be a breast radiologist, and primarily-as was my case the first time missed -licensed in by the State Board of Medical Examiners—not I wasn't in a tiny hamlet, or town, I was in a big city medical school!
Right now, I'm hearing everyone say, "The radiologists cannot work while under the scrutiny of the FDA and they get no money for reading and diagnosing mammograms." Well, then they can leave the breast radiology to those dedicated, caring breast radiologists who do take their mission seriously. And, remember, don't let your referring physician off the hook, it is up to him or her to follow up on their referrals and orders...someone orders mammograms. Pray for the day we stop doing them, and use better technology anyway with no radiation!
Every woman should know, if your breast cancer is missed on one year's mammogram, your life expectancy is not usually altered; therefore, we have no recourse under the law; however, our life is changed! Its stopped. The treatment is more intense, our lives are turned upside down, our loved ones suffer, and we—we lose a trust we so generously placed in someone—someone we trusted: our radiologist—an engima variation of a physician is most cases. Do not let the radiologist be an unseen person you pay. "No tickee no washee! Eeither you see and speak to each doctor who treats you or you do not pay them. Make that clear when you phone for an appointment.
It is only through another nightmare that began again 9/2001 that I've decided I must speak out. To this moment, 1/2002, I do not know what was on a film done in September, 2001. No one seems to know where it is, as of 12/27/01, and no one has returned my telephone calls, or faxes since 10/01. Now that is a fact. I shall not allude to anything else, herein. You are welcome to e-mail me (as so many of you do).
Help us get this message out. The message is links only, so each person has a choice to go to the source, or not...then we're not spamming. God love you.