Ethical and Legal Considerations in Breast Density Workshop South Australia 23 August 2018

@Romla   You could also use the analogy of a car mechanic who notices a slightly dodgy line to the brakes ... a kink or a nick, that could cause the brakes to fail at some time in the future ..... if he does NOTHING about it & only does what he was told to do & doesn't inform the driver of a possible brake defect ...... if the driver WAS killed as a result of the brakes failing further down the track - a forensic check on the car's history would show the mechanic as the last person who checked it out - and he could possibly be held liable for the fatality & charged with Manslaughter!

Same with Dense Breasts - the radiographers can SEE the dense breast tissue in the mammogram (which may be hiding a cancer or 2 - as happened with me) yet they didn't inform me that I should undergo an ultrasound as a precaution.  Invasive Lobular Cancer is the one that is often only detected at the Stage 3-4 level when the tumours are already large - and often already spread to the nodes & beyond ... and as we all know, they can be fatal if not caught early enough & removed/chemo/radiation.

They say that Ignorance is not a defence in law ..... but in this case, the ignorance of the Breast Cancer Patient that can be attributed to not being properly informed - I reckon, COULD be used as a defence in law!

Surely they should fear actually BEING CHARGED with knowingly allowing cancer to spread by NOT advising ladies with Dense Breasts to have a test more suitable to their condition.

After my GP found my lumps (by accident, as I only went in for a Pap smear) - I had a mammogram and US on the same day.  My GP had stipulated the exact spot that identified the tumours .... 12 oclock immediately above the nipple.  The Mammogram & 'reader of the mammogram' didn't spot it at all.  The Ultrasound was inconclusive - but at least they suggested a biopsy, which found 2 tumours, one 95% cancer cells, the other 75% cancer cells.

It is actually NEGECT OF DUTY OF CARE if they DON'T advise  women with dense breast tissue to get an Ultra Sound.   Even if they had said it in their 'letter' afterwards ..... where they 'cover themselves' by saying there is no guarantee that you DON'T have cancer!  They could add it right there - that you are a woman with dense breast tissue or 'lumpy' breasts - & should have different tests to determine whether you may have cancer.

This is from a buddy who is a radiographer ..... who I queried re the Dense Breast Tissue issue when it was raised here: https://onlinenetwork.bcna.org.au/discussion/comment/139080#Comment_139080

 QUOTE  I have worked at Breastscreen and in private radiology clinics and all mammograms are independently double read by either two specialist radiologists, or a computer program plus a radiologist. 

Only certain types of breast cancer are detectable on mammogram (fortunately, it is the most common one which is detected) - mammograms look for tiny microcalcifications which are only seen in a few types of breast cancer. 

Ultrasound will also only detect certain types of breast cancer, and again MRI will only detect certain types of breast cancer. 

 Essentially, I do agree that there needs to be more awareness about the limitations of mammograms in people with dense breast tissue (the other issue is cancer is white on mammogram as is dense breast tissue white - so dense breast tissue hides it!). 

 I really don't want you to discourage people from having mammograms - they absolutely have their use, but again, have their limitations as they are only a screening test not a diagnostic test.  UNQUOTE

Good luck at the Workshop - we will expect a full report afterward!  ;)  NO PRESSURE!   ..... Is there any chance they could livestream it on Facebook?  It just needs a phone or laptop & push a button!!