Bare Breast Exam on WJLA Creates Controversy

The two breast exam segments on WJLA include clinical demonstrations of self-exams, and the breasts of the two volunteers are completely visible. WJLA officials said the segments are providing an important service because many women don't know how to properly check their breasts.

The segments will be breaking a broadcast television taboo against exposed breasts. The Federal Communications Commission fined CBS Corp. for the "wardrobe malfunction" that bared Janet Jackson's breast during the 2004 Super Bowl. The breast exams shown on ABC affiliate WJLA are completely clinical so it may not break an broadcasting rules, although the final word on this is not clear.

The station, WJLA, says the special is not an attempt to boost ratings during the fall "sweeps" period, but The Parents Television Council says the airing could create problems. Not sure what problems showing a clinical breast exam could cause in light of some of the very revealing videos that are shown around the clock on TV channels like MTV.

The American Cancer Society says self-exams play only "a small role" in finding breast cancer. The effectiveness of self-exams as an early cancer-detection method, however, has been questioned in recent years. However, many women feel that self-exams are better than not checking at all due to the fact that The American Cancer Society says the chances of a woman having invasive breast cancer at some point in her life are about 1 in 8, and the chances of dying from the disease are 1 in 35.

One of the two women featured in the WJLA segments has breast cancer and caught it by doing a self-exam. The reports also include interviews with Elizabeth Edwards and Tanya Snyder, the wife of Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Both have been public about their struggles with breast cancer.

"This is very important information for our viewers," WJLA general manager Bill Lord said. "The public benefits of this will outweigh any criticism.

The breast self exam segments showing how to do a breast exam with the apparently controversial bare breasts were to air during the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts Thursday and Friday.

Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com

sources: WJLA, ABC,