Dear insurance companies:

Women deserve INFORMED CHOICE in Breast Cancer Screening.

Currently women are told they MUST have a mammogram in order to have an ultrasound.

There are well documented valid concerns about mammography screening.  

Many women have already experienced serious harms. Many prefer to OPT OUT of mammography for the following reasons:

- Over-diagnosis of non-invasive "pre-cancers" leads to aggressive overtreatment for tens of thousands of women every year. 

- Under-diagnosis (mammograms miss 40% of INVASIVE cancer in dense breast tissue). 

- Unnecessary biopsies (80%) may cause  pain and injury to sensitive breast tissue. 

- Compression and radiation can cause pain and injury to sensitive breast tissue. 

- Radiation is cumulative and can induce DNA damage and cancer.

- Extreme psychological distress results from all of the above.

Women are seeking breast imaging options such as automated whole breast ultrasound (ABUS) and QT Imaging.

Women who understand benefits and risks of breast cancer screening are happy to sign a waiver to OPT OUT of mammography.  

Insurance coverage for safer options such as ABUS and QT Imaging as stand-alone options are needed.

Having a mammogram -- or not -- should be a personal decision based on balanced, unbiased information which weighs both the benefits and harms. No one should ever feel pressured, intimidated, bullied or shamed for choosing NOT to have a mammogram.

Studies, videos and infographics explaining the scientific facts to support this petition can be found at: https://dcis411.com/bewise/