Do Not Neglect Mammograms, Says Elizabeth Edwards

Comments

April 19, 2007 at 5:53 pm

(1) susan says:

I think Elizabeth and John Edwards are great, caring people, and I admire their strength and courage.

But I do wish Elizabeth would not make a blanket recommendation for mammograms — they can certainly be harmful to some people with a certain genetic disposition, and the radiation has side effects, one of which can be cancer.

I have followed Dr. Samuel Epstein’s work for over 10 years. He is an intelligent, highly informed cancer researcher and he understands the politics of cancer.

I have spoken to him personally and sought his help in my quest to reduce the use of cancer-causing pesticides in schools — which were quietly, regularly sprayed for many years while children were present — and still are in some cases.

Most are endocrine disrupters that have a negative impact on hormones, as well as neurotoxins — which can adversely affect the brain and behavior of children.

If we are going to talk about prevention of cancer, we have to go beyond the politics and corporation propaganda and look at the whole picture.

Please consider what Epstein has to say about mammograms and a lot of other things. He is interviewed in the movie, The Corporation also.

June 2, 2007 at 11:27 pm

(2) Hanna Greene says:

Elizabeth Edwards’ constantly telling the public that she was guilty of doing what all women do – putting their children and husbands first and doing so much for others that she failed to do for herself in getting a mammogram.

Oh, if only there was a shred of plausibility to those words….

I am quite sure that in the 4 years Mrs. Edwards failed to have a mammogram, she had regular appointments to dye her hair, have it cut and styled, pedicures, massages – yes she did for herself during that time. She just didn’t do responsible things for herself. But she didn’t work her fingers to the bone doing for her family (which makes us and her own family feel too guilty to say, You idiot, how could you be so irresponsible!).

It’s especially pathetic when a woman with tremendous financial means and a personal assistant at her disposal (yes, the one that makes all of her other appointments) couldn’t find the time in 4 years to have a mammogram knowing its importance – particularly in light of the fact that she CHOSE to have two children at an advanced age using fertility treatments that inherently increase cancer risk to begin with. Mrs. Edwards’ actions (rather, lack thereof) were selfish and stupid and her trying to salvage her reputation by claiming she neglected herself for her family just adds insult to injury.

Mrs. Edwards, your babies won’t remember how pretty your hair looked all the times you returned from the salon you had time for instead of that mammogram you should have had so you could be there for them (psst. so they wouldn’t have to remember you at all).

How sad that you were so careless to everyone!