BSE—Yes, It's Worth It!

Wonderfully irreverent political humorist Molly Ivins died January 31, 2007 of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer. Ivins once described her disease thus: “Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that.” Unfortunately, the treatment for many kinds of cancer, including breast cancer, remains the same, making early detection critical. Although very short, Lange Productions' BSE—Yes, It's Worth It! features a remarkably comprehensive and easy to follow demonstration (backed by 3-D graphics) of the monthly breast self-exam (BSE) for breasts of all colors, shapes, and sizes. Experts agree that the mammogram is still the best tool for finding tumors (it can detect a lesion as small as a grain of rice), and Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) by a medical professional is recommended annually, but the BSE is an essential first line of defense. An excellent companion to Lange Productions' recently updated Be a Survivor: Your Guide to Breast Cancer Treatment (originally reviewed in VL-11/98), this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (N. Plympton)