To most people new US airport screening requirements involving fullbody scanners and intensive pat-downs are annoying or intrusive, but for women who have or had breast cancer, airport security may hold special challenges.One Bermudian woman, who did not wish to be named, who underwent breast cancer treatment last summer, travelled through American airport security in August. Although it was before the new Transport Security Administration (TSA) security measures were introduced in November, security still posed a challenge for her.“My feet were badly swollen from the medication,” she said. “Your fingers can also swell up. I was worried that if I took my shoes off I wouldn’t be able to get them on again. I told the security personnel and they were kind enough to let me keep my shoes on.”Ann Smith Gordon of PALS said she had not heard of any local women with breast cancer having problems, but she had heard of one cancer patient who had had his colostomy bag ripped during a pat down.Stories in the media have abounded recently with people with various medical issues being roughly treated by TSA officials. It was reported in the American press that Cathy Bossi, a long-time flight attendant and breast cancer survivor, was forced by TSA security to remove her prosthetic breast during a security screening. According to the TSA webpage, security officials are not supposed to make you remove your prosthesis, and they request that you don’t offer to do so.TSA security officers are supposed to be trained in dealing with people with medical conditions, but the incident is under investigation. There has been such an uproar that TSA has promised to review security policies and the way they are carried out. Unfortunately, there is a reason for the increased attention on people with medical conditions. ABC News has reported that American intelligence has picked up terrorists discussing the use of prosthetic or medical devices to conceal explosives.Besides invasion of privacy there are also other concerns posed about the new security measures in airports. Some scientists are concerned that the new x-ray back scatter machines installed in many airports around the United States may be emitting too much radiation. When used they expose the person to six seconds of ionising radiation.David Agard, a biochemist and biophysicist at University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), is demanding a more thorough review of the scanners’ potential health risks.Dr Agard believes that ionising radiation such as that from the x-ray back scatter machines have the potential to induce chromosome damage, and that can lead to cancer.He believed the scanners’ potential harm comes from the low energies at which they operate. “Most of the energy is delivered to the skin and immediately underlying tissue,” Dr Agard wrote in a letter to President Obama’s top health advisor John Holdren. “If the dose were distributed throughout the entire body, it would be safe, but a targeted dose to the skin is too high.”He felt that particular groups of people including the elderly, people with the HIV virus and current cancer patients and children, may be especially vulnerable. However, people who are concerned about the fullbody scan can always opt out in favour of a manual pat-down.He told National Public Radio (NPR) there really is no threshold of low dose radiation being OK.“Any dose of x-rays produces some potential risk,” he said.Phyllis Johnson, a blogger on healthcentral.com said: “As a cancer survivor, you may be concerned about the radiation of the body scanner. The amount of radiation is supposed to be minimal, but I have already been exposed to much more radiation than the average person with my extensive radiation treatments and with follow-up tests. I admit I am concerned about the radiation, but I’m not sure if my fears are founded. Frequent travellers should also be concerned about radiation exposure. It may be just a little, but it will add up.”She suggested people with cancer discuss the radiation risk with their doctor before travelling.Travel experts also suggest it may also help to carry medical documentation and a letter from your doctor explaining your special needs and limitations, although it won’t exempt you from being searched.If you are a cancer patient, or have other medical conditions, there are a number of things you can do to make travelling through American airport security go more smoothly.These following suggestions are taken from the TSA website at www.tsa.gov. Please check it out for more information and updates.Before you travel:Before you arrive at the airport provide advance notice to your airline or travel agent if you require assistance. TSA can only assist you with the screening process. Your airline will assist you through the airport facility and the screening queue line.At the Airport:If you require a companion to accompany you through the security checkpoint to reach your gate, speak with your airline representative about obtaining a gate pass for your companion before entering the security checkpoint.The limit of one carry-on and one personal item (purse, briefcase or computer case) does not apply to medical supplies, equipment, mobility aids, and or assistive devices carried by a person with a disability.If a personal search is required you may choose to remain in the public area or go to a private area for your screening. If you refuse either option you will not be able to fly. You should be offered a private screening before the beginning of a pat-down inspection if the pat-down will require the lifting of clothing and or display of a covered medical device.A travelling companion may accompany you and assist you during a private or public screening. After providing this assistance, the companion, assistant, or family member will need to be rescreened.You may ask for a chair if you need to sit down during the screening process.You should be allowed to raise your arms out during an inspection only as far as you indicate you can.You have the right to ask a security officer to change her or his gloves during the physical inspection of your things or before they perform a pat-down, or any time your footwear is handled.You may ask to sit down after you have passed through a metal detector if you are weak or unstable on your feet because of your prosthetic device, cast, or support brace.Your liquids:Passengers can now purchase drinks in secure areas in the airport and take them aboard the plane. TSA also allows prescription liquid medications and other liquids needed by persons with disabilities and medical conditions. This includes mastectomy products, prosthetic breasts, bras or shells containing gels, saline solution, or other liquids. However, if the liquid medications you are carrying are in volumes larger than 3.4oz each, they may not be placed in the quart-size bag and must be declared to the security officer. A declaration can be made verbally, in writing, or by a person’s companion, caregiver, interpreter, or family member. Declared liquid medications and other liquids for disabilities and medical conditions must be kept separate from all other property submitted for x-ray screening.Your oxygen:CO2 personal oxygen concentrators and prosthetic devices are allowed through airport security along with a number of other devices for people with medical conditions. If you carry personal supplemental oxygen will need to undergo screening. Check with your doctor prior to coming to the checkpoint to ensure disconnection can be done safely. If your doctor has indicated that you cannot be disconnected, or if you are concerned, ask the security officer for an alternate inspection process while you remain connected to your oxygen source.