Flying with Prosthetic Boobs...
 

Hi, FlyerTalk. Long-time lurker, first-time poster. I did do a cursory search but haven't found anything close, and I really need some advice.

I'm a fairly young (early 20s) survivor of breast cancer. As a result, I had to have a skin-sparing bilateral mastectomy. I've had my incredible awesome prosthetic breasts, which help me preserve some sense of normalcy, for about 8 years.

It's come to my attention that such devices will generate additional TSA scrutiny, and on at least one closed board another survivor mentioned that the TSA agent she'd dealt with was extremely humiliating and insisted that, after she went through the new-tech scanner, that both of her prostheses needed to be swabbed for explosives and in fact grabbed one of them out of her bra. It's bad enough that apparently prosthetic breasts are seen as a threat, but this kind of behavior terrifies me. Additionally, women who've opted out report similarly troubling behavior during the part of the pat-down that focuses on the breast, and younger cancer survivors have reported TSA doubt and unpleasant comments from TSA agents when screened; it further doesn't help that it seems like these invasive scans/searches target younger women disproportionately often, or commenters here and elsewhere note that.

My home airport (Sea-Tac) no longer has any lanes where one can automatically avoid the new-tech scanners; the checkpoint for Terminal C used to be safe but apparently is no longer.

I need your advice, FlyerTalkers. My husband and I are pondering canceling our plans to fly to his parents in TN for Christmas; the airport coming back is safe, as it's far too minor for the scanners, and we're going through DFW so we can stay safely behind security. What the heck do I do? I'm lost, confused, and I really don't want to wreck my husband's family tradition. What's worked for keeping TSA agents in line without causing the specter of legal trouble?

I have been pondering this question, although in a more general sense.

How do the screeners even know the difference between normal human anatomy, an anatomical anomaly unique to the individual, an implantable medical device or prosthetic and a device implanted into suicide terrorist? Depending on the particular medical device/prosthetic and its location, a physician might be feel it through clothing, would likely be able to identify it if the skin were directly palpated and would undoubtedly identify it on imaging. But a screener...how do they know the difference between an implantable medical device and something implanted into a suicide terrorist -- and what would they do if they suspect the latter? When the passenger is saying "It's my prosthesis" but the screener thinks it's a nefarious device...is this when they call for a surgeon to break the tie?? :D

I'm anxious to follow this conversation -- thanks for starting it!

Chellian,

Permit me to say, welcome to FT!

Unfortunately, the only observations that I have are the ones posted on here already. TSA apparently claims the power to require a prosthetic wearer to permit touching (poking, prodding, etc.) for screening purposes. Personally, I have a couple of friends/coworkers who have encountered issues with TSA and the handling of their prosthetic devices.

Again, welcome to FT and I look forward to reading this thread (will add it to the list of links I have sent those friends mentioned above).

Well, a breast prosthesis is outside the envelope of the skin, so I have no doubt that from accounts and descriptions, they can see it. Apparently, however, it pulls as an "anomaly" in the AIT scanners since it's something other than human flesh, and given the social sensitivity to difference present in the average TSA agent, well...it seems to create problems.

I don't know how it works for implants; I'd think that since the scanner apparently sees the edges of human skin that it wouldn't detect an implant. I know that even though I had the skin-sparing mastectomy, which gives me a chest akin to a 12-year-old boy's, there's no real technology for implants. I would personally prefer not to have implants anyways, but that's just me.

Of course, this dredges up a troubling thought: people could have things implanted within the envelope of the skin. I know that these AIT scanners don't really protect anyone, but I do know that they're being used as an excuse to harass women with prosthetic breasts; I'd imagine that the 30% of us who stuff our bras somehow in another manner thus generate attention from your TSA friends.

It's sad that we've come to the point that basically being female generates additional scrutiny, given that a maxi-pad seems to be another thing that generates "anomalies."

I was speaking more in general terms, but to frame it in a way more relevant to your specific situation, if you were to opt out of the scanner, how do they know they are feeling -- through your clothing and bra -- a prosthetic vs. a breast vs. an implanted boob-bomb?

I don't think they can tell -- not without imaging and without physically palpating the skin on your chest....so why are they bothering with this bit where they touch your chest over your bra and blouse?

It really bothers me that females have to be subjected to having their breasts "being felt for anomalies). Perhaps we just haven't heard about it, at least males don't have their private parts "being squeezed for anomalies."

LAX

There are reports here of it happening, even a whole thread dedicated to the subject:

Procedures are common across the system, so if you set off the WTMD twice, or are randomly selected, you still get the pat-down.

Cavity bombs. This is an extreme example, yet a pair of 1000cc implants contains something equivalent to right around 0.5gal of liquid equivalent mass. Pick up a 1/2-gallon of milk, and that's about the volume possible. Some newer variable implants can not only be expanded yet now also can be drained, so have fun with that thought. :)

I object to the fact that our government is forcing us to even have this conversation...

+++++

Just keep believing that the longer and louder the conversation goes on the more likely we can get the pendulum swung back to the middle.

I don't object, yet I am saddened.

Yet I'm grateful for the fact that we can be having this conversation.

I am a survivor of Crohn's Disease and have to wear a prosthetic device (colostomy appliances). Going through the body scanner will set it off (but the filter has been known to set off the metal detector too). I actually prefer the body scanner to the metal detector because there is no huge alarm at it. Just an agent talking into their arms via an ear piece. I feel it does a much better job at protecting my privacy.

I have been through the body scanner three times and opted out once. I was treated professionally all 4 times during the pat down. On one of them, I was automatically hauled off into the private room and given a "resolution pat down" due to a failure in my groin area. They patted down that area extensively through the pants and pulled down on my colostomy (majorily bad).

The next time, I had to request a private screening and I was given the option of exposing my device, touching it per agent instructions, and then having my hands swabbed. This was much preferable to the pulling down because I know how much force my bag can take and I will not cause a leak. The time they focuses on it through my pants was extremely uncomfortable, especially when the clip got stuck in the fly of my underwear. I was worrying about a leak the whole time.

I understand why they need to test my bag. It could easily conceal
very dangerous explosives. But I much prefer having it exposed where the agent can see it rather than them blindly grabbing at it through clothing--which is, I believe, what caused the leak in the urostomy case.

I imagine they have a right to see and swab prosthetic breasts as well. How this would work I am not sure. I do know I would raise hell if they ever required me to remove my bag or compromised the functionality of my prosthetic device during the screening. Perhaps they could adapt a similar procedure where you expose your bra and then touch the device yourself like they do with us ostomy patients.

They absolutely have no right to make disparging comments. If that happens, take their name and badge number, ask for a supervisor, then ask for the supervisor's supervisor. It is inexcusable for intolerant remarks about persons with disabilities to be made at airport checkpoints.

You also have a right to a private screening and a right to a witness of your choice. If you are traveling alone, your airline will provide a witness for you if you request it at check in. I suggest a witness for the private screening if you feel that you may be exposed to hurtful words by TSA agents. If you do not have one, it's she said, she said.

Finally, be polite. You may need to draw a line and say "that was inappropriate and hurtful for you to say. I feel I was treated unprofessionally, I am requesting your name and badge number and to speak to your supervisor," but yelling gets you no where and ulimately distracts from you case.

That said, being 31 and having had a colostomy since I was 26, I have been treated professionally on all but one occassion--and that was years ago before the new rules. Unfortunately, patients talk to each other about the horror stories and not when everything goes normally. I suspect the hurtful comments did happen, but I also believe they are the exception and not the rule.

PS-I also prefer the scanner to opting out because they tend to yell opt out, whereas if you fail the scanner they just quietly talk through their ear pieces. Failing the scanner is much less noticeable than the metal detector or opting out.

According to the TSA, if you're not normal, you must be a terrorist.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. As if surviving cancer isn't rough enough, being singled out by your government for extra abuse just to fly is infuriating.

Have been biting my fingernails for a while now, as this conversation unfolds.

I have survived bilateral breast cancer, thanks to being a Canadian and having access to our national healthcare system. Hurrah for that, at least. I made it through and I was not bankrupted in the process. Dea gratia!

However, I have implants within my breasts, part of the reconstructive process. Nothing fancy, just little bags full of specially-blended vegetable oil which does not obstruct or confuse mammograms. I would imagine that many women who have survived breast cancer, receivered mastectomies and elected for reconstruction also possess such implants.

In passing through an American security checkpoint, recently, whilst leaving the country by air, my breasts were groped so roughly as to be bruised -- during what I was assured was a 'normal patdown'. The person doing that groping was embarassed and apologetic for having to continue after I told her that she was hurting me. I found the experience triggery in the extreme, and have in the subsequent weeks coming to the growing realisation that I do not want to ever travel to the USA by air again. Period. Full stop.

I appreciate the arguments being made pro- and con-groping. I appreciate that there are issues of 'global security' and 'sek-ur-i-tay theatre' both; they are not likely to be resolved by one woman's conclusion that she's had enough of all of this foolishness.

In my heart of hearts, I believe that most of the players in this fiasco mean well (with the obvious exception of anyone contemplating an actual act of terrorism or other violence!), but we've reached an impasse.

I am wondering whether, if I subsequently change my mind and decide to fly into or out of the USA again, whether I should simply ask the duty FSD for a manual mammography report? Who knows, they might find a pre-cancerous lump, thus saving the Canadian healthcare system some time and money.

Hope springs eternal,

Mevlannen

Whelp, at least we're still here, right? I was too much of a lost cause for much in the way of reconstruction; guess the important lesson here was "don't grow up next to Hanford," as I was one of six girls in my high school to have breast cancer; half of us made it. So I suppose the deep irony is that this is the US government harassing me for a condition that it was complicit in giving me.

I'm sorry the TSA was awful to you; it embarrasses me as an American that they hurt you in the name of our country's alleged security.

The significant problem is that there seems to be no way to effectively explain to TSA agents that there are valid reasons for having a prosthetic device, and that such a device does not make for a situation where it is fair to single us out. If I take 'em off and stick them in my bag, they're going to trigger suspicion. If i wear them through the AIT scanner, suspicion. Either way you look at it, you lose.