Dense Breast info - which USA states advise their women .....
This is a map of the USA - where the 'pink' currently show states that already advise 'some' of their women that they have dense breast tissue and may require further assessment by Ultrasound and/or MRI ..... but even the 'pink' states don't tell ALL the women! This article Below indicates that the FDA is proposing to make it mandatory to advise women if they have dense breast tissue! I can only hope that Breast Screen Australia follows suit, when it comes thru in the USA. https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/dealing-with-high-density-breasts Late last year, I actually received a letter from Breast Screen NSW telling me NOT to post on their Facebook page about the need for those with Dense Breast Tissue to be advised & to ask for an ultrasound ..... I was also posting the fact that Mammograms are available free of charge to all women in Australia aged 40 plus (NOT 50 plus as is in most of their advertising on TV and online.) They asked me to stop doing that too. But I am keeping on doing the "Free from 40" bit, anyway!! ;) So once the FDA comes thru and makes it compulsory for their breast screeners to advise women of their breast density - it should be a BIG kick up the arse for our own Breast Screening to do the same.171Views1like8Comments
Have your say - Survey on BreastScreen Australia’s Position Statement on Breast Density
Hi all, The Australian Department of Health is considering whether BreastScreen Australia’s Position Statement on Breast Density needs to be changed. The Department has commissioned Allen + Clarke, a consulting company, to undertake a short, online survey to get the views of researchers, clinicians and women who use BreastScreen services. Currently, women who participate in BreastScreen are NOT routinely told about their breast density. The exception is the WA BreastScreen Program, which sends a letter to the woman and her GP if the woman is assessed as having very dense breasts. It can be harder to detect cancers on mammograms of women with very dense breasts as breast density can hide or 'mask' breast cancers. Research has shown that having very dense breasts is also a risk factor for breast cancer. This survey is an important chance to share your views about whether or not BreastScreen Australia should talk to women about breast density. While more scientific research is needed to help health professionals understand how women with very dense breasts can best be screened and/or manage their breast cancer risk, many women argue that they want to be told. The survey will close on 27 June 2018. Your responses are anonymous. Tips on taking the survey Some of the survey questions have been written in a complicated way. We have developed the following tips to help you have your say. Please read BreastScreen Australia’s Position Statement on Breast Density before you take the survey. The survey asks if you have read the Statement and you cannot proceed with the survey if you answer ‘no’. If it's easier, you can read a summary of the Position Statement on the Information Forum on Mammographic Density (INFORMD) website. Please read BCNA’s webpage about breast density before you take the survey. BCNA member Kate has shared her story about breast density, which you can read here. Question 6 of the survey asks what ‘evidence-based’ changes you would like to see to the position statement and asks you to provide ‘citations’ (e.g. journal articles). Please don't be put off by the language in this question. BCNA has provided feedback to Allen + Clarke that women’s views are important and should not need to be ‘evidence-based’. We encourage you to share your views about breast density in the open-text boxes at either question 6 or question 7 and not to be concerned with the way question 6 has been asked. You can skip questions (i.e. leave them blank), but please make sure that you click through to the end of the survey and click ‘submit. How to participate? You can take the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BSApositionstatementonbreastdensity. Please also don’t hesitate to email the BCNA Policy Team on policy@bcna.org.au if you have questions.521Views0likes19Comments
Anyone interested in doing a podcast with us?
Hi everyone, We are looking for a woman to be part of a podcast we are doing with Breast Screen Victoria next week. If anyone is interested and meets the following criteria, please direct message me. · Diagnosed through routine mammogram (or sent to a breast screen facility after having a symptom) · Victorian based · Able to be part of a podcast recording on Thursday 14 June at 10.30am (must be able to attend in person at Melbourne University) Thanks!632Views0likes58CommentsMore about the budget
With the focus on the big win for ribociclib, we missed some of the other wins in the budget including funding for 3d mammography which has been discussed quite a bit in the network recently. Here is a link to a BCNA piece on the bits of the budget that might be of interest to you101Views0likes5Comments
Wish to join an online group from the Gold Coast.
Recently told I have breast Cancer.Is this the right group?. I am looking for an on line group of ladies who have breast cancer on the Gold Coast. I have been diognized on 4/3/16. This week I will know what is the treatment as I have to see the oncologist. It is all too scary and overwhelming to me especially as it was so unexpected. The breast cancer was found at my two yearly mammogram. I wish to join an on line group from the Gold Coast. I was diognized on 4/3/16 so still overwhelmed and scared. This week I see the oncologist and will discuss the treatment for me.1View0likes0Comments
Making The Breast Of It
I was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2015, three months before my 60th birthday. I consider myself very lucky that it was caught early, through a routine mammogram. I have had a lumpectomy and one lymph node removed (which was clear) and am shortly to start 4 weeks radiation. Every morning I wake up grateful for my early diagnosis. I am also an author of comedy fiction, and looking at the books published on breast cancer (both in bookstores and on Amazon) I noticed a marked absence of books on the lighthearted and humorous aspects of having breast cancer. So I have decided to fill that gap and write one, which I am doing at present. This is not to make light of the difficulties and emotional trauma that many people go through, but I also think we need to be able to laugh as well. It's essential for our physical and mental well-being. My book is called 'Making the Breast of It - breast cancer stories of humour and joy.' It will be a combination of my own experiences and those of as many ladies I can find who are willing to share their experiences with me from a light-hearted, positive point of view. So I am putting the call out here and if you would like your story to be included, please message me on this site or email me at robin@altosoft.com.au. We can talk by phone, Skype or email - whichever is better for you. (I live in Queensland). I will only use your first name and age in the book, but if you would like a pseudonym that's fine as well. My book will be published on Amazon as an e-book and also in print, and you'll get a free copy of the e-book. If you want to check me out, here's my website. http://www.storey-lines.com/ I look forward to chatting with you and have a great day - it's a beautiful spring day here on the Sunshine Coast.1View0likes12Comments
needing to find rural help
Well, it's been a long time since I have been active here. Almost coming up to my second post op mammogram in October. I'm feeling well and coping with the normal discomforts from surgery. However at present I'm down in NSW trying to help an elder sister who has just recently had a double mastectomy. She lives in country NSW at a place called Grenfell. While her treatment in hospital during surgery I believe was good, I'm disheartened to find the lack of help or support organised for her since returning home. Her husband was simply told to call homecare himself and when he did he felt more like an annoyance to the lady than anything else and the conversation ended with no outcome really. I'm wondering if any of you have experienced similar in rural areas, is it because I live in a city area that my post care was second to none? Is there something we as a family should be doing. somewhere where we should be calling to gain help for her?1View0likes6Comments
Testing 1,2,3
Hi all, this is my 3rd attempt tonight at creating a post.Up till now,when I hit the pink post tab,it takes me straight back to all posts.Thought I'd 'cracked'the code but have no idea where my last 2 attempts went.While I'm here,may as well post that I had my mammo today-5yrs on or 12yrs from the first bout of bc.I wasn't anxious until the radiographer said she was using a new whiz bang machine which took better pictures but meant my boob would be squashed for 10 times longer!Gotta love progress. Won't get results for a few days. Best wishes to all you lovelies having bc treatments.You will get through it all and enjoy life again.Tonya xx ps.If this post appears then I have Paula to thank: )1View0likes5CommentsTesting 1,2,3
This is just a test run to see if I'm able to post cos up until now, when I hit the pink post tab,it takes me straight back to all posts.But while I'm here,may as well post that I have my mammo tomorrow -5yrs on,or 12yrs if you count the first bout of bc.I'm not anxious now but my pulse might speed up abit when my boob goes on that cold X-ray plate.My best wishes to all you lovelies out there who might be struggling with your bc treatments.You will get through it and enjoy life again. Tonya xx1View0likes0Comments
