1317 Why you know more about iPods than mammograms

Full Field Digital Mammography is a huge technological advancement in the detection of cancer that despite 5 years availability, isn't catching on to replace the older mammogram technology because consumer demand and manufacturer competition doesn't factor in. "Routine use of FFDM will mean:

Fewer images and less radiation overall
No lost, damaged, or mislabeled films
Portability
Reproducibility
New ways to detect cancer (manipulating the digital image); and
"Double-reads" by Computer Aided Detection (CAD) software"

CodeBlueBlog is running a three part series on FFDM and how the consumer is out of the loop on medical advancements. He compares it to another digital technology--the development of the music CD and the current popularity of the iPod. He concludes:

"If people were informed and had choices, new technology would spread like wildfire, and breast cancer detection would get better. Fewer women would die from breast cancer. All the groups who lobby so hard and work so fervently against this cancer plague could do more by advocating simple market reforms than is done with all the walkathons, pink ribbons, and think tank group seminars together."

And as usual in really thought provoking blogs, the comments are just as informative as the original post.