Breast Density
Hi all Am confirmed for the workshop on Breast Density here in Adelaide next Thursday 23 August. I am prepared to put any questions the blog has on this issue and report back on the responses. In addition I hope to upload a summary of what I learn on the day - just may need to be the week after as my twins are turning 18 that weekend and have 80th birthdays ( yep plural) on the Friday. As the workshop is 10 - 4 on Thursday will take any questions to the workshop that. I have up until 5pm the day before - Wednesday.
Australian women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk
Approximately 10% of women have high breast density. At this point in time, thousands of Australian women are being denied important information about their breast health which could empower them to better understand and manage their risk of breast cancer. BCNA’s Director of Policy, Advocacy and Support Services, Vicki Durston, says Australia’s approach to population-based screening is not keeping pace with growing evidence that supports routine reporting of breast density. This due to the absence of national reporting standards and a lack of software in publicly funded screening services that can effectively measure breast density. “Every woman has the right to know and understand her breast cancer risk through standardised breast density reporting,” she says. “For those identified as high-risk or with high breast density, it is essential that clear options and pathways are available to support early detection and proactive risk management.” Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) is currently advocating for a unified national approach to reporting breast density through Australia's national population-based breast screening program – BreastScreen. Mammography images showing the difference between spotting cancer in a fatty breast (top) vs dense breast (bottom). It's like "spotting a snowman in a snow storm". You can read BCNA's media release via the link Australian women denied knowledge of their increased breast cancer risk Read ABC's feature piece on our advocacy efforts: Mandatory breast density reporting
Gah. Back again.
Almost seven years ago I roller-skated through Olivia Newton John hospital to Xanadu for my last radiotherapy session, post lumpectomy. Here I am again... another oestrogen positive cancer, same stoopid dense breast. It was picked up on MRI as it couldn't be seen through my milky dense breast tissue and after an MRI biopsy (such fun!!!) I was diagnosed last week. So now I'm up for a double mastectomy and trying to make reconstruction decisions. I'm thinking I may need to go the Johnny Diep Flap. Seeing the plastic surgeon tomorrow. Really glad you're here....
CEM - Contrast Enhanced Mammography - anyone heard of it? Supposed to be good for Dense Breasts
I found this in one of my news feeds last week ..... and going by the pics (below the 'normal' Dense Breast Tissue Images) the CEM appears to show the cancer much more specifically in size and shape ..... Some people don't like having contrasts/injections - if it gave a clearer picture 'straight up' of your cancer .... would you say 'yes' to CEM? https://densebreast-info.org/screening-technologies/contrast-enhanced-mammography/?fbclid=IwAR2HggizaLVzYsSfROdCqhAO0fy-Ni9nnZNRZMRl637qVL-FVQDDrRsrJ9o If you have dense breast tissue - it would be worth checking out the rest of the site too!! https://densebreast-info.org/
