React

LETTERS ON THE APRIL ISSUE

Screening Scare
The fact is, we don’t know
who is going to get cancer
and who is not (“What’s
Wrong with Cancer Tests”).
We don’t know which can-
cers will respond to early
detection and treatment
and which will not. But at
the American Cancer Soci-
ety, we accept the risks of
overdiagnosis and treat- I was told I had an abdominal aneurysm. Every
ment because we believe
that screening procedures,
year, I had tests to see how much it had grown,
when applied to large num- but there was never any change. Six months ago,
bers of men and women, an MRI showed no aneurysm at all. All that time,
do save lives. money, and worry for nothing. Too many doctors
To suggest that cancer routinely order tests, and the results are often
screening has hurt more
misinterpreted. Edith Hach, Phoenix, Arizona
than it has helped is ludi-
crous. Cancer screening, as
imperfect as it may be, is not the Your article presented an unbalanced
place to start cutting back on one’s perspective on colorectal cancer.
health care. Please do not provide Colonoscopy screening allows doc-
your readers with horror stories tors to identify and remove polyps
that strike fear. Inform, educate, (precursors of cancer), therefore
JANA LEON/STONE/ GETTY IMAGES

and guide them. But do not scare preventing cancer from developing
them. That is a terrible disservice. in the first place. The lifetime risk
Len Lichtenf eld, MD, M ACP, for developing colorectal cancer is
deputy chief medical officer, American Cancer Society approximately 6 percent, and we

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ADVICE TO CONGRESS … THE
READER’S DIGEST VERSION
We asked our e-mail panel what
their elected officials should hurry
up and accomplish. Top of the list?
Fix health care (30%) followed
closely by rescue the economy
(26%). Other ideas:
>> Refuse salary increases.
>> Bring home our soldiers.
>> Achieve bipartisanship.
>> Get your hands out of my wallet
and give tax breaks to all businesses.
>> Quit approving earmarks and
wasting money.
>> Listen to the president.
>> Work within the budget—we’re
only building up more debt.
>> Provide incentives to use alterna-
tive fuels.
>> Follow the Constitution.
>> Pass a bill to give the president
a line-item veto.
>> Revise the No Child Left Behind
Act.
>> Stop interfering with the free
market. Let businesses succeed or fail.
>> Provide incentives to keep compa-
nies and jobs in the United States.
>> Help people stay in their homes.
>> Balance the budget.
>> Stop giving money to those who
contributed to this mess.
Want your opinion heard? Join Our
Connection, the Reader’s Digest Reader
Panel, and take part in short surveys.
Sign up at readersdigestconnection
.com and register to win $30,000.
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think that losing 50,000 people
each year is significant, particularly
if that number includes a mother,
father, sister, or brother. And for
the relatives of colorectal cancer
patients, it does.
Colorectal cancer is largely
preventable. We encourage people
to speak with their doctors to deter-
mine an appropriate screening
schedule.
John L. Petrini, MD, FASGE, president,
American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
This story generated a lot of contro-
versy. For more information, see
readersdigest.com/cancerletters.
Hands-On Advice
I enjoyed “Going Green, the
Reader’s Digest Version,” particu-
larly the information regarding the
use of paper towels versus electric
hand dryers in public restrooms.
I’ve traveled in Asia, where more
often than not, neither option is
available. I now carry a dry wash-
cloth in a plastic bag in my purse
wherever I go. I use it to dry my
hands throughout the day, then take
it out to dry when I return home
in the evening.
Linda Stoddard, Laughlin, Nevada
Congress Cleanup
When it comes to campaign finance
reform, public financing may be
part of the answer (Outrageous!
“Dialing for Dollars”). However, I
would also like to suggest that the
time has come for a constitutional
amendment to lengthen congres-
readersdigest.com 6/09
sional terms from two
to four years. This would
not only cut the amount
of money needed to fill
a seat but also give mem-
bers of the House of
Representatives some
time to focus on their
jobs before gearing up
for reelection.
La rry Wa ters, Tucson, Arizona
Welcome Home
I made my son read the
stories in “Home of
the Brave.” What an in-
credible eye-opener for
both of us. These people
suffered more than we
will ever know. They
chose to come to Amer-
ica because we are a free
people and welcome
those who want to join
our family. They became Americans
and now contribute with thankful-
ness, time, and experience. They
are a blessing.
K risten Smith, Nottingham, New Hampshire
These courageous people remind us
of the importance of our freedom.
We must be ever vigilant, informed,
and determined to protect everything
given to us by our Constitution.
M a ry A. M ercurio, Cincinnati, Ohio
I immigrated here many years ago as
a teenager with a suitcase and $40 in
my pocket. America has been good
to me, and I love my adopted coun-
Our Readers in Action
I was so inspired by Chip Paillex’s garden that
I’ve started to organize my local community to
grow a garden in the spring (Make It Matter: “The
Producers,” October 2008). Not surprisingly, there
are many local organizations that are interested. We
will be donating the harvest to the food bank in our
town. Thank you for showing how easy it is for one
person or a community to make a difference.
C. E., via Internet
Since you told your readers about the Pay It
Forward Fund (Make It Matter: “Up From Under,”
September 2008), we’ve received thousands of
dollars in donations. A Vietnam vet who lost his wife
to breast cancer plans to donate all the proceeds
of the book he wrote, Nobody’s Warriors, to the
fund. Colonial Life, a local insurance agency, donated
$10,000 to our upcoming fund-raiser. Being fea-
tured in the local media outlets has also brought
in donations. Thanks to all the support, we’ve been
able to extend the fund to a fourth hospital in the
Minneapolis area. Michelle Morey, Orono, Minnesota
try. Taking the Pledge of Allegiance
and becoming a citizen was one of
the greatest milestones of my life.
Gwendoly ne Graham, Palmyra, Virginia
Family Man
I identified with singer Gary
LeVox’s comments about losing
touch with his stepfather after he
and his mother divorced (Up Close:
“Ramblin’ Man”). LeVox should
follow through with his desire to
contact his stepdad. As someone
on the other side of that equation,
I believe that contact would be
welcome and very uplifting.
Gary Pickering, Davenport, Iowa
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