Good article, thanks for the read Tom. And since I think we learn more from the criticism then the praise.
Two suggestions: grammar error in the final paragraph "If I should
I ever donate to a cause dedicated to fighting breast ";
and if I didn't know you personally I probably would have quit reading in the 2nd paragraph. You're basically apologizing for having an opinion that may differ from others. This is your opinion, as long as it's well supported there is no need to have a disclaimer for it. Just get to the detail of the story please and don't worry about offending friends. Besides if they're going to be offended the disclaimer won't prevent that from happening.
Edit:
Got to thank you though for the work, led me to explore more on the topic and there is an absolutely fantastic writeup in the New York Times dealing with negative health risks involved with big charity's drive for earlier detection and increased health risks being incurred by women due to their action.
Quote:
I found myself thinking of an alternative way to describe what happened. Fibrocystic breast disease does not predict cancer, though distinguishing between benign and malignant tumors can be difficult, increasing the potential for unnecessary biopsies. Starting screening in her 30s exposed this woman to years of excess medical radiation — one of the few known causes of breast cancer. Her D.C.I.S., a condition detected almost exclusively through mammography, quite likely never would become life-threatening, yet it transformed her into a cancer survivor, subjecting her to surgery and weeks of even more radiation. By the time of her second diagnosis, she was so distraught that she amputated both of her breasts to restore a sense of control.
Long but worthwhile read,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/magazine/our-feel-good-war-on-breast-cancer.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1