Letter of the Week: Alternatives to mammograms

I recently decided that after years of painful mammograms I am no longer willing to expose myself to the radiation or suffer the trauma of the compression.

I have no confidence in the mammogram’s ability to provide early detection. If I develop an abnormality, I want to know about it before it gets to Stage IV. I would rather be proactive than reactive.

I told my doctor what I had decided and asked her for viable alternatives. She suggested three: MRI. Ultrasound. Thermography.

I chose thermography. All of my online research indicated it provides the earliest detection, and even though my insurance would not cover the test, my out-of-pocket cost was less than the other procedures.

So to answer the real question of some readers, yes, there is an economical alternative.

Mardee King is passionate about women’s health. She was born, was raised and lives in Kansas City. She worked in office management for about 25 years before retiring a few years ago. She and her husband have five adult children, 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

This story was originally published November 2, 2014 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Letter of the Week: Alternatives to mammograms."