Written, directed, and produced by Megan Smith, this women’s health documentary opposes the current standard of care for cancer screening—which is mammography and biopsy—and proposes alternative methods. With the voices of experts from a variety of medical settings, information from scientific articles (along with their citations) from the medical literature, and individuals relating their experiences with breast cancer detection and treatment, Boobs makes a strong case for dispelling certain myths regarding the efficacy of mammograms for early cancer detection. Dr. Ben Johnson, author of No Ma’am-ograms states radiation from one mammogram could be the equivalent to 100 chest x-rays and opposes women being subjected to this much radiation. Dr. Manfred Doepp, a specialist in nuclear medicine in Switzerland, states his country outlawed mammograms as they are considered harmful.
The myth that mammograms are effective in early detection of breast cancer is refuted by Dr. Gloria Jackson at the Foundation for Healing in Virginia and by Dr. Johnson. The idea that mammograms do not spread cancer is also refuted by Doepp and Dr. Johnson. Both contend: if there is cancer in breast tissue, a biopsy can spread cancer. For this very reason, Dr. Doepp stated doctors no longer use biopsies in Switzerland. Since mammography smashes the tissue, this can create inflammatory changes or even rupture a cyst and spread cancer cells if they are present. Dispelling the contention that mammograms are accurate, the doctors point out that mammograms can give false positives or false negatives. Complications can arise as well, especially if the pathologist incorrectly diagnoses the results. A further impediment arises from breasts with dense tissue where a tumor may be difficult to detect.
Several women contribute personal stories saying that they were not told they had dense tissue; if a diagnostic tool such as ultrasound had been prescribed, they feel their cancers may have been detected sooner. According to an article by Dr. Kolb in Radiology, ultrasound significantly increases detection, as it is sensitive and successful 75-85% of the time. Currently, the standard of care uses the mammogram for screening and ultrasound for diagnostic purposes. Insurance coverage follows suit. Dr. Galina Migalko, an expert in imaging, advocates thermography as a preventive test; thermography is a non-invasive test of physiology and can be combined with ultrasound leading to 95% sensitivity. Thermography uses infrared technology to detect inflammation and heat from growing cancer cells. So far, thermography is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Viewers are urged to contact their legislator or state attorney general for approval of these alternative screening approaches. With thought-provoking statements by committed doctors, references to science, personal accounts from women, and a little humor, this film raises the question: what should be the standard of care for detecting and preventing breast cancer? Recommended. Aud: H, C, P.