The big squeeze : a social and political history of the controversial mammogram
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Location | Call Number | Status |
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Berkeley Public Library - Stacks | 618.190754 REY | On Shelf |
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Choice Review
In this very brief look at the controversy of routine mammography screening, Reynolds (breast radiologist) relates the history of the procedure since its popular beginnings in the 1970s. Describing mammography as the "silver bullet" for diagnosing breast cancer and reducing deaths from the disease, the author reveals that the public's perception has falsely focused on believing that mammograms prevent or cure the disease. Although the focus is on the continuing debate that began in 2009 after a panel of medical experts recommended limiting mammography for women under 50 years of age, Reynolds relates a fascinating story of the evolution of the procedure. The book's eight chapters address five important factors: the 2009 decision that initiated the controversy, which continues today; the evolution of a "culture of mammography screening" influenced by "social and political forces"; the way politics rather than science overpowers the issue; the development of an economy of screening as a collateral system; and the risk that mammography can lead to overdiagnosis. Extensive notes and references support the text. Summing Up: Recommended. All levels/libraries. M. P. Tarbox Mount Mercy University
Publisher's Weekly Review
Mammography has never been far from controversy, notes Reynolds, former chief of breast radiology at Indiana University. The cancer screening test has been lashed, he says, by political, social, and financial forces that have muddled the picture regarding its risks and benefits. This book is a quiet call for a more frank discussion of what an "indispensable tool" mammography is in the fight against breast cancer, without ignoring the test's risks. Reynolds takes a critical look at the "breast cancer epidemic"; the ever-shifting guidelines regarding the age at which women should be screened ( 40? 50?); confusing interpretations of trial results; the role of breast cancer activists in promoting mammograms; and the profitable industry that has grown up around mammography. And after 40 years of screening, there still remains a stubborn silence about false readings and overdiagnosis. "Women... need complete and accurate information regarding the risks and benefits," Reynolds asserts-and this brief, clear volume can be the first step in achieving that goal. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Many readers will remember the controversial decision in 2009 by a panel of medical experts (U.S. Preventative Services Task Force) that women should not undergo regular mammography screening until the age of 50, rather than beginning at 40. Here, breast radiologist Reynolds examines how this debate first started in 1976 and explains how the conversation about when to begin mammography screening has never been entirely about science, but is intermixed with political, social, and financial considerations. His work outlines the history, politics, and legal history of mammography and he explains how the AIDS activism of the early 1980s set the stage for the breast cancer activism of the early 1990s. In addition, Reynolds discusses benefits of screening and explains its most significant risk factor: overdiagnosis and overtreatment of breast cancer. VERDICT Though his target audience is the lay person, the reading level is high. Best suited for health-care professionals, students, and those with an interest in health-care policy and politics will find Reynold's book of interest.-Dana Ladd, Community Health Education Ctr., Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Libs., Richmond (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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Citations
Reynolds, H. (2012). The big squeeze: a social and political history of the controversial mammogram . ILR Press/Cornell University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Reynolds, Handel, 1963-. 2012. The Big Squeeze: A Social and Political History of the Controversial Mammogram. Ithaca: ILR Press/Cornell University Press.
Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)Reynolds, Handel, 1963-. The Big Squeeze: A Social and Political History of the Controversial Mammogram Ithaca: ILR Press/Cornell University Press, 2012.
Harvard Citation (style guide)Reynolds, H. (2012). The big squeeze: a social and political history of the controversial mammogram. Ithaca: ILR Press/Cornell University Press.
MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)Reynolds, Handel. The Big Squeeze: A Social and Political History of the Controversial Mammogram ILR Press/Cornell University Press, 2012.