Great News for Pennsylvania Women!

The PA Breast Cancer Coalition’s Dense Breast Notification Act was passed by our state legislature!

It just needs signed by our Governor, Tom Corbett.   This Act will require Radiologists in PA to notify women of their breast density at the time of their mammogram.

Why is this Important?

Because there are a group of women “falling through the cracks” that are not having their breast cancer diagnosed until a later stage because of the density of their breast tissue.

There is enormous variability in the density of breast tissue from woman to woman.   Some women have very dense fibrous tissue decreasing the ability of a mammogram to “see” through this tissue to diagnose a cancer.  Some women have very fatty and not so dense breast tissue making finding a cancer a little easier with mammogram.  

There are many factors that may increase our risk of breast cancer over time such as our family history, having radiation therapy for cancer as a child, carrying the BRCA gene mutation and others.

It has been known for a long time that breast density can also be an independent risk factor for breast cancer.

Well, if a mammogram doesn't work that well, what will help to make that diagnosis if you have dense breast tissue?

Discuss this with your physician and consider evaluation possibly with Breast Ultrasound, Mammogram with Tomosynthesis, or possibly breast MRI screening.

Be sure you know your Risks and your options for screening!  And Don’t Miss your Mammogram!  You are very Important!