Dense breast tissue bill passed in CA

bejuce · 09-12-2011, 11:18 AM

Hi HER-2ers,

The CA Senate just passed a bill (see here) to require radiology reports to inform the women of their breast density.

I think this is a great step for all women and I applaud this decision. However, there is still a lot of opposition to this bill and I'm wondering why - haven't we seen numerous studies and research articles that showed a strong correlation between high breast density and breast cancer risk? Why aren't more people supportive of this decision?

Thanks for your thoughts!

Marcia

Laurel · 09-12-2011, 06:19 PM

A very good question, Marcia, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. Why indeed is there not more education regarding dense breasts? I ask women all the time to inquire whether they have dense breast tissue or not and if so to request additional views with magnification. When I was diagnosed they told me they had been "watching" some "calcs" in my very dense breast for years. They had noted changes and I immediately opted for a biopsy. Later when I got to Hershey Med they did magnified views and I recall a veritable labyrinth of ducts resembling branching streams and rivers that were full of ductal carcinoma. Shocking. All of that had been missed for presumably years with the standard mammo views. If only I had known to press for the magnified views. For that matter, if only I had known they were "watching" some calcifications for years. I could have requested a second opinion. I fully believe Hershey would have been much more aggressive and I may have been spared the infiltration.

norkdo · 09-12-2011, 06:39 PM

you have to see this video. this woman doctor and a physicist actually invented a breast cancer detection tool better than a mammograph. It is a must see video!

http://www.ted.com/talks/deborah_rhodes.html

chicagoetc · 09-12-2011, 06:46 PM

This may be way off topic...but my experience of redoing and redoing imaging (due to density) left me dreading mammograms. They never got it close enough and by the time they got close, I was in so much pain (mostly from the technicians telling me to push myself closer which resulted in my ribcage pressed tightly into the contraption, whatever it is called) that I couldn't hold myself still to save my life. All of which to say it didn't help much. Though it was a mammogram (not one repeatedly redone and remagnified) that led to further testing (ultrasound) and subsequent diagnosis. Would they have found it earlier? I don't know.

I'm guessing some of you would have responded differently.

Melanie

PS: I just saw norkdo's post. Will need to view later.

Pray · 09-12-2011, 11:24 PM

Nora, Great video! My cancer didn't show up on mamms or digital mamms (very dense) I had 4 tumors before I was finally dx! I saw the films along with the drs we were all shocked they just were not there! I am going to try and find out if in anyone does mbi in Michigan! Thank you!

caya · 09-13-2011, 06:59 AM

Why don't they just go straight to breast MRIs for women who have dense breasts? - after the initial mammogram, women with breasts over 50% density should have breast MRIs for all future imaging. Bypass the mammogram and ultrasounds - they did nothing for me. In July 2006 I had a "clean" mammogram and ultrasound - went in for a breast reduction in October 2006 - my plastic surgeon found my 1.7 cm. IDC tumour.
Yes, I know there can be false positives on breast MRIs, but I'd rather that than a false negative with other useless imaging.

all the best
caya

norkdo · 09-13-2011, 07:40 AM

the price of mri machines is prohibitive. i see u r a canadian too!
there are way more mri machines in the states per capita than here.
here they are reserved for hockey players and baseball players
with injuries!

radiant · 09-13-2011, 10:46 AM

Thanks Marcia for posting this. I actually called the senator behind this bill to see if I could help, since I am now stage IV due to dense tissue. I did not hear back from him - but, this senator was not in my district. Anyways - FINALLY this happened.

- Kim

PinkGirl · 09-13-2011, 10:56 AM

Thanks for the link to the video Nork ... very
interesting.

I go to Thunder Bay Regional and they do MRI's
24/7. I've had 3 of them and the last one was
at 3 am. They also have a new Breast Cancer Centre
and lots of women are having MRI's.

caya · 09-13-2011, 12:39 PM

Nork -

I get my annual Breast MRI at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. My onc. orders it. From what I understand, in the States, many women have to get this test approved by their insurance companies, here in Canada, the dr. can order it. Unless it is an emergency, the MRI will not usually be done immediately, but it will definitely be scheduled in a timely manner.
As Pink stated, many Ontario hospitals are doing them 24/7, and that's okay with me. It's covered by our universal health care system.

all the best
caya

norkdo · 09-13-2011, 01:48 PM

thot u asked Why don't they just go straight to breast MRIs for women who have dense breasts?

that is all i was referring to. takes too much money up using mri's instead of mammography

caya · 09-13-2011, 02:31 PM

Yes nordko, mris do cost more money than mammograms. But they will save lives - that's why dense breasted women have to push for breast mris, whether with our doctors and/or insurance companies. I was lucky that my tumour was found by my PS, but in fact, a subsequent breast mri before my mastectomy found another 1.0 cm. tumour in the same breast.

What I am saying is once a women has the initial mammogram and high breast density is noted, subsequent testing should be mris, in my opinion. Money would be saved not doing mammos and/or ultrasounds, basically useless imaging on dense breasts. There have been many studies showing that dense breasted women are 4-6x more likely to have BC - and that mammograms on dense breasts often miss the tumours. Women must be vigilant and demand to know the % of their breast density so they can be better informed and discuss with their drs. what action/further imaging to take. Some states in the US are passing legislation to require physicians to inform women of their breast density, a condition that masks cancerous tumours in mammograms, as noted in bill SB 791 that was recently approved by both chambers of the California legislature.

My point basically is - we have to push for more funding to get mris for all who need it, regardless of finances.

all the best
caya