Our Petition seeks a Standardised Breast Density Notification Protocol for all Women who have Mammograms

It is essential that Women are told if their Breasts are Dense or not Dense

Dense Breasts are

• Category C Heterogeneously Dense
• D Extremely Dense

Approximately 43% of Women have Dense Breasts, their Mammograms are difficult, sometimes impossible to reliably interpret. Breast Cancer is missed on Mammograms of Women with Dense Breasts because both Cancer and Breast Density appear as white areas on a Mammogram.  White masks White and Cancer is missed. Women need to be informed about their breast density so they can avail of additional, essential Imaging.

Our Breast Density Request Form can be Downloaded here. 

 https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:1970a201-3432-4b5e-b969-98a0e591da21

#TellMeMyBreastDensity 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breast Density Request Form 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breast Density is a Radiological finding and an Independent risk factor for developing Breast Cancer.

 

It is a greater risk than having a Family History of Breast Cancer

Currently, Women in Ireland are not routinely notified about their Breast Density. This is a Woman's Health Issue that's not widely discussed and is not routinely reported to the Women affected or to their GPs.

Breast Density is assessed by Radiologists who read Mammograms. It isn't palpable, it isn't the same as having lumpy breasts. Women cannot know that they have Dense Breasts, unless they are specifically notified.

Your Mammogram is the only way to assess your individual Category of Breast Density.

Because Women are not routinely notified about their individual Category of Breast Density with their Mammogram results, consequently they are not routinely advised about additional, or essential Imaging for those who fall into Category C or D - Mammographically Dense Breasts. 

There are four categories of Breast Density A - D

1. A Mostly Fatty
2. B Scattered Fibroglandular Tissue
3. C Heterogeneously Dense *
4. D Extremely Dense *

40% of All Women have Dense Breasts, it is a Heritable Trait. Almost 50% of Breast Cancers are missed on Mammograms of Women with Dense Breasts. 

There is much global discussion about Breast Density. As a result of the D.E.N.S.E. Clinical Trial in the Netherlands, we have new European Recommendations from EUSOBI The European Society of Breast Imaging (March 2022) saying All Women should be appropriately informed and notified about their individual Category of Breast Density and they advise additional Screening with MRI for Women with Extremely Dense Breasts.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00330-022-08617-6

The higher the Category of Breast Density the higher the risk. 

Breast Density shows as white areas on a Mammogram. Breast Cancer shows as white areas on a Mammogram too. This 'White on White' effect is known as Masking and is likened to 'Looking for a snow ball in a snow storm' - almost impossible to distinguish one from the other. 

Too many Women are experiencing Late Stage Breast Diagnoses because their Mammogram results are compromised by their Breast Density. 

My Breast Cancer Diagnosis came only 6 months after a 'Clear' Mammogram. I had a history of Clear Mammograms going back several consecutive years. It was years after my Diagnosis before I was to discover that my Breast Cancer was unseen on my Screening Mammograms due to my Extremely Dense Breasts. I was told, by my Surgeon that my Tumour had been there 6 - 8 years. I'd had 4 Clear Mammograms in the 5 years before my Cancer Diagnosis and was never told I had Dense Breasts.

Had I been notified that I had Dense Breasts, I would have known to have additional Screening by Ultrasound or MRI and my Tumour would have been found earlier.

Please sign this Petition today and lend your voice to our efforts to ensure that the National Screening Service introduce a protocol now to Notify ALL Women about their individual Category of Breast Density and the associated Screening Risks plus the benefits of Supplemental Screening for Women with Dense Breasts. 

Early detection matters. 

This is for ALL Women, our Daughters, Sisters, Mothers, Friends and Colleagues. 

Thank you.