Breast-Cancer Screening

IN its highest form medical controversy provides the energy for inquiry and progress. When controversy descends from the intellectual to the emotional plane, participants become more the advocates of belief than the seekers of truth. When the "experts" champion opposing positions, it becomes the responsibility of each physician to examine personally the data available and to separate facts from assumptions or articles of faith.The current controversy about screening for breast cancer may accurately be described as highly emotional. Expert opinions range from the view that screening programs will save many lives to the belief that these programs will produce . . .