Bald, One Boob, Air Travel and TSA

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sbelizabeth
sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
edited June 2014 in Stage III Breast Cancer

I'm currently chemo bald and had a single mastectomy a couple of weeks ago.  I'll be flying cross-country (USA) for my son's graduation and I'm a little weirded out thinking about TSA and getting through the security stuff. 

I don't want to do the total-body scanner, but the pat-down option, so recently after my surgery, isn't a cheerful thought either.  Anyone have any experience or suggestions here?

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited May 2012

    My RO is chair of Radiation Oncology at Dana Farber, and has been an RO since the mid-70's.   He is world-renowned and travels frequently all over the world.  I asked him if he went through the full body scanners, and he said yes.  So after that, I relaxed a bit.  I still hate the idea, but I hate even more the idea of a patdown.  Some of the airports are moving to the next generation of software which doesn't show the actual body image. 

    From the TSA's website:

    "TSA recently installed new software on all millimeter wave imaging technology machines - upgrades designed to enhance privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detecting potential threats and indicating their location on a generic outline of a person. Areas identified as containing potential threats will require additional screening. The generic is identical for all passengers. If no potential threat items are detected, an "OK" appears on the monitor and the passenger is cleared."

    I've flown quite a few times since finishing treatment and so far it's been "ok."  I did have to remove my ballcap (showing my two-week PFC growth) but that didn't really bother me.  I figured I'd never see any of those passengers ever again!

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited May 2012

    I flew cross-country last fall. I was going to request the pat down vs. the scan, but found myself herded like a heifer into the scanner before I knew what was happening! This was at 6 a.m., and I'm not my feistiest at that early hour. Because my two foobs showed up on the scan, I still had a pat down by a rather stern female TSA agent (this was at the San Diego airport, famous for the "Don't touch my junk!" incident).

    Knoxville airport was nicer. I told the agents when I got in the scanner that I was a bc survivor and certain anomolies would show up. The female TSA agent was very kind and sympathetic, and I didn't get a pat down there.

    I'm not crazy about the scanner, but I probably receive as much radiation from dental xrays once a year, so what the heck. What irritates me, though, is if they're going to scan, why pat down, too? Just cut to the chase when I tell you "I'm a bc survivor and you're going to see some strange stuff if you scan me?"

    The pat down at the San Diego airport was gentle. I think so much depends on the TSA agent performing it. I would definitely speak up and say you recently went through surgery. Some agents may cut you a break, some not.

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  • mary625
    mary625 Member Posts: 1,056
    edited May 2012

    I was sent through the full body scanner at Dulles, and of course they saw I had no boobs. The TSA agent (female) pointed at my boobs and asked if I was carrying something there. I explained the situation twice. She then said that she had to pat me down in that area. She felt the top of the foobs (microbeads), and went in between them and under them. She then tested my hands for explosives. I was humiliated and cried. Next time, I'll ask for metal detector or private pat down. However, I did not see a private area in the Dulles cattle-herding area. Returning from LAX, I went through metal detector and had no problem.



    I was already wearing some post-chemo hair growth, so I don't know what they would do about a wig. Hopefully, they would not be able to tell. If I had my wig on and had to remove it in front of a bunch of people, I think they may have had to send me out in a straight jacket.



    I am concerned about the body scanning because next month, I've got to travel for business on flights that will likely have co-workers.

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  • sbelizabeth
    sbelizabeth Member Posts: 2,889
    edited May 2012

    I'm back!  The TSA thing was no big deal.  I told the agent I was opting out of the scanner, he called a female agent, we stepped a few feet away, and the job was done.  She was very kind.  I'm still bald from chemo and they did NOT make me take my hat off.  The pat-down was much less intrusive than I'd read they sometimes can be. 

    Same experience coming home.  I'll never opt for the scanner again.  I don't want to explain why it looks like I'm "packing" in my bra with the breast form.

    And there's something else.  With all that's occurred in the past year, over which I have very little control (biopsy, lumpectomy, more biopsy, chemo, mastectomy, upcoming radiation and reconstruction), with TSA, I have a choice.  Scanner and explanations or pat-down?  With all the radiation my poor body has absorbed in the past months, I know it's a little ridiculous to refuse the scanner based on limiting my radiation exposure, but there it is.  I chose not to.

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