Breast Density Workshop Adelaide papers online

All the  best for your Twins' birthday celebrations!   ENJOY!

Great info there, @Romla   ...... I really resonated with Michael Shepherd's address .... and it is fantastic that he has made available his email & other discussions for BC survivors for future contact.

Hmmmm ... how on earth does adding a sentence to a form letter to Breastscreen attendees 'add any cost' at all - when they send a letter out to everyone anyway, usually just saying 'we take no responsibility for you getting breast cancer' (and unspoken - even tho [up til now] we won't tell you you are at heightened risk due to having dense breast tissue which mammograms mask any cancer growths?)

There IS no added cost to the 'readers of the mammograms' - all they have to do is tick a box re Dense Breast tissue to be added to the 'letter' ..... and, to be honest, they SHOULD be scared of litigation into the future, due to failure to inform!

More observations/commentsto come in between last minute festivity organisation for my twins 18th birthdays and intercolls.

I think given that the papers that struck me most ( bar one on WA) have now been uploaded I will add further comments in this space today.

I would like to start by saying it was an exceptionally well run workshop with excellent speakers .I would also like to say the positions taken by the speakers about the revelation of breast density was not conclusive - ranging from neutral to positive - the negative position was not strongly mentioned but seems the position of ANZRC ( Radiologist organisation) and Breast Screen Australia.It is possible the latter was not taken up strongly by a speaker due to sensitivity within the audience.

I learnt a lot not all of which my ageing non medical brain will retain but the overriding message I received was that dense breasts obscure the effectiveness of mammograms and as such early breast cancer may go undetected to the detriment of the individual.

My final general observation was one about the participants generally.As a group I thought we were predominantly well educated , middle income or above , metropolitan and Caucasian- and am not sure this reflects widely enough the population effected by breast cancer although the workshop was open to all.

@Sister Michael delivered his paper with barely disguised anger and frustration at the many roadblocks placed in front of answers to his questions - I feel that government were fearing increased cost as further testing would be required in the public health system and also litigation as they had not/ would not provide it.I guess also Michael could be quite a force to be reckoned with and I admired his determination to get answers on behalf of his beloved wife.I am glad he provided his paper for uploading as his delivery was rapid fire from a man on a mission who felt thwarted by excuses and evasion.

The above I guess is my impression only and others  may have a different view - I hope those that read my comments above accept them with good grace as a personal viewpoint as I would accept their alternative view should they have them.I am no expert by any means.

Interesting reading @romla.  Michael Shepherd's address raised my hackles!   Can't wait for your report - enjoy your twins' birthday celebrations!

Nice find @kmakm!

@JJ70 See above.

Michael Shepherd’s address as husband of a breast cancer survivor is well worth a read also about their ongoing crusade on this issue.