Sunday, November 28, 2010

For BC Survivors Traveling by Air

If you have any hidden medical devices like a breast prostheses or a port and are planning to fly, you may want to read this post. Canadian airports have full body scanners and pat-downs but not the issues found in the US. So when you’re traveling south of our border, beware of what’s happening and prepare yourself.

The buzz about the TSA passenger screening at U.S. airports all started after a woman declined to do the full-body scan because of radiation concerns. She was then given the option of a body search instead. Things got uncomfortable when the female agent discovered her breast prosthesis and asked her to pull it out. Another case was where an agent poked and prodded around lady’s port so aggressively, it made it sore and uncomfortable for days.

So to help make air travel just a bit easier, Susan G Komen for the Cure put together some steps you can take as you head to the airport.

6 comments:

Ann aka ButDoctorIHatePink said...

I'm glad Komen is on the subject, but they don't go far enough. They should be telling women to avoid flying altogether. Our 4th amendment rights to unreasonable search and seizure are being violated - we are selected because we had cancer. We all know this "security theater" doesn't make us safer - checked bags are not scanned. For all any TSA agent knows, I could have an explosive gel in an implant - they can't tell by feel and these terrorists are, after all, suicide bombers. The only thing that will stop this unconstitutional assault on us is if we stop flying and the airlines take a hit. Then you can bet they'll lobby for a change. I hope Komen decides to urge women to avoid this situation altogether, although I suspect they are in bed with some airlines. We'll see.

Whidbey Woman said...

What a timely post! I know many cancer survivors are concerned about this,especially with holiday travel. Bless you for sharing!

KristyRae said...

Thank you for posting this Daria. With all the articles, outrage and satire going around about this subject - it is so refreshing to see your post. I often wonder why the American public was not warned ahead of time about this. What would have been so difficult about giving the American public some advance notice of the criteria to either be scanned or go through a pat down. Had we all been informed better - perhaps this wouldn't have snowballed into such a spectacle. And - those with medical issues should have had fair warning - and the TSA should have been trained better to deal with these situations as well.

Bernie said...

This is good to know Daria, I flew this summer and had no problems, did you have a problem when you went to Ottawa. These are frightening times aren't they. Big Hugs sweetie....:-)

Daria said...

Bernie, I had no trouble at all flying to Ottawa. I didn't even have to take my shoes off.

Julie Goodale said...

I always fly w/ my compression sleeve/glove. One very early morning in Montana, a TSA agent insisted on cutting off some of the sleeve & glove to test. I refused. He insisted. I refused, louder. I explained exactly what this medical device was, how much it cost (and would he hand me the cash right then to cover a replacement?), and why I had it in the first place. I also insisted that if my compression sleeve was a threat, that anyone else's bra, socks, or underwear were just as much of a threat! An older woman, his superior, heard this & came over. She apologized, told me to go on to my gate. As I was walking away, she had backed him up against the wall, yelling at him.

But that was 3 yrs ago.