If you’ve been looking for some light on the American Cancer Society’s puzzling pronouncement on October 20 — recommending less mammogram screening for breast cancer — you’ve probably been frustrated. You’ve seen a lot of finger-pointing from all sides of the controversy, but little explanation of the science behind it. Heat, but no light.

We’re the exception.

In Episode 6 of The Chemo Files, my son Noah and I talk to a top breast cancer expert in the UK, Dr. Michael Baum, and learn why a breast surgeon whose mother died of breast cancer, and who helped set up the UK’s early-screening effort, changed his mind and became a vociferous opponent of widespread screening. We also talk to Dr. Nancy Elliott of the Montclair Breast Center in New Jersey — and it was that interview turned the key that made us understand how this all works.

Of course, being The Chemo Files, we also make it all very personal — and bring you scenes from our cue-ball head Halloween. And show you what it’s like to ask a preeminent doctor for a second opinion three-and-a-half months into your treatment.

With interviews from Dr. Michael Scoppetuolo, Chief Medical Officer of the Cancer Center at St. Barnabas Medical Center; Dr. Michael Baum, Professor Emeritus of Surgery and visiting Professor of Medical Humanities at University College, London; and Dr. Nancy Elliott, director of the Montclair Breast Center. It’s a family effort: Warren Levinson did much of the tape editing. Our new logo courtesy of Joe Amditis. And we feature new music composed just for The Chemo Files from Evan Schwartzman (“Chemistry is Scary”) and Noah Levinson (“Screen 2”).

To listen, just click on the orange button below:

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