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Current Bill Expires with the 116th Congress Beginning January 3, 2019,

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Over the past two decades, peer reviewed scientific studies have demonstrated that mammography misses every other cancer in women with dense breast tissue.

Breast density predicts the accuracy of mammographic screening at any age. Additionally, the research has shown that by utilizing adjunct breast screening tools to mammography,, detection of early stage invasive breast cancer can increase up to 100% for women with dense breast tissue. By failing to enact life saving screening protocols for women with dense breast tissue, cancers are detected at a later stage which conveys less treatment optiona and worse survival outcomes. The impact on the health care system is also significant as a later stage diagnosis is significantly more costly to treat than an early stage diagnosis. Early matters - as the size of tumor at diagnosis predicts survival.

Breast density is one of the strongest risk factors associated with breast cancer

According to the National Institute of Health and a myriad of studies spanning 8 countries, breast density is recognized as one of, if not the strongest risk factor associated with development of breast cancer. Breast density represents a stronger risk factor than having two first degree relatives with the disease. The American College of Radiology (March 2018) published recommendations to include that a women with dense breast tissue has a higher than average risk of breast cancer. There is currently no national standard to disclose breast density to women although Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. and its DC team is working with the FDA to change regulations to standardize the communicaiton of dense breast tissue across the U.S., in addition to federal legislation.

The decision to withhold dense tissue composition from women is denying women the right to make an informed decision about their breast screening.  Public safety of women’s breast health and survival supports the government to enact policy that will require health care providers to be transparent about the benefits and inherent harms of mammography alone to detect cancer in dense breast tissue.

The medical community has failed to enact a standard that requires heath care providers to inform women that mammography can miss more cancer than it detects in women who have dense breasts. As a result, women with dense breast tissue are being denied equal access to an Early Breast Cancer Diagnosis..

A policy change by the government is necessary to ensure that patient safety becomes a high priority and that the communication of Breast Density to Women is standardized across the country.