The speakers were Annette M. Brown, MD radiologist, Harold P. Freedman, MD surgeon and Rosa Razaboni, MD plastic surgeon. Dr. Brown who is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiology at SUNY Health Sciences Center in Brooklyn spoke about her experiences with women in the community seeking mammograms. She said there was a definite lack of awareness as to symptoms and reasons to come for a screening or diagnostic mammogram.
Many women feel that if there is no pain, there is no problem.
Many believe a family history is the main cause of breast cancer. Some younger women have expressed fears that handling the breast may cause cancer. Often older women are caretakers for children and others. They cannot take time out of their day to be screened. This is certainly a socio-economic problem and indicates a need for childcare at clinics and cancer centers, a concept that would probably benefit a broad spectrum of women.