I must be getting stroppy in my old age ..... I've just sent this off to the Nurse Counsellor with Mid Coast Health, who had difficulty explaining why they don't advise women with dense breast tissue that they should have other tests!
Many thanks for that. I just thought of something else ..... when I was trying to find a contact address/email to send my letter, I found it difficult to find one - hence I used the messaging system on Breastscreen NSW on Facebook. Maybe there needs to be a tear off section on the letter with a box to tick to be removed - with another box to indicate that they have been diagnosed, with a self addressed envelope?
I understand that breast screening is actually available to women aged from 40, not 50 as most of the advertising seems to indicate? Why doesn't it show as at age 40?
Just days ago on the Breast Screen NSW Facebook page it shows: "over 50? "Regular breast screening is by far the best way to pick up breast cancer in its early stages ......"
Yet then says - early detection saves lives! There are MANY women between 40 & 50 who get breast cancer too, as you will know
Re the Dense Breast Tissue issue - if you ask anyone who has been diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer if they knew they had dense breasts and that the mammograms were virtually useless in identifying their condition -(white on white) most say No - they didn't know. If asked if they would have had an ultrasound or other scan if they'd known - most say yes. They are also incredibly angry that they weren't advised. It is actually malpractise by omission, as the radiographer can see it on the film when they check it on the day - and it could be a death sentence if it is not picked up til Stage 4 - as it is difficult to feel, even by hand.
I wonder what would YOU do? Knowing that you had dense breast tissue and the issues around identifying cancer - I bet you would be having an ultrasound or other scans, to be sure?
It is pretty obvious to me that women with moderate to high dense breast tissue need to be advised, on the assumption that invasive lobular IS already being picked up via mammogram already on the lower dense breast tissue women? Can you confirm that? But how would you know, if they are not advising you? If they are also being missed .... obviously EVERYONE with dense breast tissue needs to be advised. I'd been having mammograms for 15 years with 'clear results' every time ...... if I'd waited until my 'reminder letter' last month - it may now have been much worse, in my nodes or even stage 4 - and still not likely to be picked up by mammogram.
THE WOMEN WITH DENSE BREASTS NEED TO HAVE THAT CHOICE! If they decide not to - so be it. But they need that choice to KNOW that they have dense tissue breasts.
With WA already advising their clients (and now the USA - see the press release below) - why isn't Breastscreen NSW asking them how they got around that 'who do we tell' issue. Just tell all of them!
This has become a bit of a hobby horse of mine & I am madly advising any women that I know - to make sure they know whether they have dense breast tissue. Mine were always called 'lumpy' - so I am assuming that is another 'term' for dense breast tissue?
Can you let me know when the Computer Dept has sent the Films to my breast surgeon and my GP
BIG NEWS IN BREAST DENSITY - IF THE USA CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T NSW & ALL THE STATES?
Recently in the US, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) now providing mandatory guidelines for the reporting breast density:
Breast density is a known risk factor for breast cancer. The breast is comprised of a mixture of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue (dense) and fatty tissue (non-dense). The proportions of these tissue types vary from woman to woman.
Approximately 8% of women between 40 and 74 years of age have ‘extremely high density’ breast tissue.1 These women have a 50 to 70 percent higher risk of developing breast cancer.1 In addition, dense breast tissue appears similar to tumours on a mammogram, which can hide the presence of cancer.
It is not possible to tell the density of your breast without having a mammogram. A dense breast is not necessarily firmer, and cannot be detected by touch.
This gap in knowledge has now been addressed by the US Congress, who have directed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish minimum reporting standards. Mammogram reports in the USA will now have to state:
A qualitative assessment of the individual patient’s breast density.
An explanation of the effect breast density has on hiding the presence of breast cancer on a mammogram.
A reminder to patients that they should talk with their medical care providers if they have any questions about their breast density.
http://ow.ly/VDSA50mIb4I (To read more)
