Breast Density Mammogram Law: Florida is the 33rd State to Pass Legislation

Another state goes PINK!

Yes, July 1, 2018 is a big, BIG day for Floridian women!

The Florida House & Senate passed legislation on March 1, 2018 mandating breast density be reported on mammograms. YES!!!!!

This new law goes into effect on July 1, 2018!

Mammogram Breast Density Legislation:
What It Means For Floridian Women

Here’s the deal:

Mammography misses breast cancer at least 10% of the time. (Read here for details from Dr. Toan Nguyen of the Hollis Cancer Center at Lakeland Regional Health.)
Cancer hides in the dense tissue, making it difficult for medical professionals to read on mammograms. Cancer and dense tissue both appear white on a mammogram.
With the new law, if dense tissue is present it must be included in your mammogram report.
According to the Mayo Clinic, women with dense breasts, but no other risk factors for breast cancer, are considered to have a higher risk of breast cancer than average.
This photo was taken on October 27, 2017 about five minutes before learning the results of my biopsy. I thought I was fine – I didn’t have a lump! This is the day my life changed.

According to AreYouDense.org, breast density is one of the strongest predictors of the failure of mammography screening to detect cancer.

There are other tests (ultrasounds, MRI’s) that help detect cancer in dense breast tissue.

Take Joan Lunden, for example. According to her website, she had a clear annual mammogram in 2014. However, since she had dense breast tissue, her doctor recommended an ultrasound followup. That second test revealed a tumor in one of her breasts. But…..her mammogram was clear. Get it now?

Why I Am Passionate About Letting Women Know About Breast Density and Mammogram Notifications

Totally Tatas Breast Cancer — This photo was taken after my first round of AC “red devil” chemo. I crawled out of bed and headed to JC Penney’s for a photo session. I wanted one last picture of the “old” me. JC Penney’s allowed for walk ins, which was a blessing because I wasn’t sure I could leave the house that day. And, 72 hours after this was taken, I lost most of my hair!

I had a clear mammogram on September 22, 2017.
Four weeks later, I was diagnosed with borderline Stage 2 Invasive Lobular Carcinoma.
I never found a lump.
My double mastectomy presented an 8cm cancerous mass with lymph node involvement; I was confirmed Stage 3A. How did that mammogram miss this?!?! Oh. I had dense breast tissue.
I am 47 years old with no family history of breast cancer.
That first mammogram reflected dense breast tissue. Now, the law mandates women be told about dense tissue.
I thought monthly checks and annual mammograms were enough. I never found a lump.
A screening mammogram, diagnostic mammogram AND ultrasound hid my cancer. Because of the extreme density, I was sent for a biopsy.

A word about mammograms…..they are VERY important! However, women with dense breast tissue should know that additional screenings may provide them with peace of mind….or save their life.

My Goal? To inform. To go beyond “think pink” monthly lump checks. To make sure women know about breast density, so they hopefully do not end up in this chemo chair:

Note: Heather is not a trained medical professional. Information shared on Totally Tatas should not be taken as medical advice. Please see your doctor for case specific questions or concerns.