I started a Petition for Standardised Breast Density Notification for all Women who have a Mammogram. We have 3,340 names on it so far. We would love support from Women’s Groups, Sports and Community Organisations
You can easily sign here ⬇️
Please read why this is important ……
There are 4 categories of Breast Density
Category A – Mostly Fatty
Category B – Scattered Fibroglandular Tissue
Category C – Heterogeneously Dense
Category D – Extremely Dense
Category C and D are considered to be Dense Breasts
It is well recognised that Cancer is missed on Mammograms of Women with Dense Breasts
In 2015 my Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer Tumour was missed on my Screening Mammogram, multiple Breast Screenings failed to identify the Tumour which was eventually diagnosed at Stage 3c – 7cm and node positive. It was diagnosed after a self referral and 6 months after yet another ‘Clear Mammogram’ letter was sent to me.
My name is Siobhán Freeney and I am the founder of http://www.beingdense.com education and awareness around Breast Density and associated Breast Cancer risks.
My missed Diagnosis was referred to by the Breast Cancer Screening Program as
‘A True Interval Cancer’
My Surgeon however said it had been growing for 6 – 8 years
Experts within the Screening Program said it was ‘Unseen with Learning Points’
The bottom line is that the Tumour was ‘Unseen’ missed.
It was missed because the Tumour was growing ‘Unseen’ in #Densebreast tissue. I had not once been notified that I had #Densebreasts, even though I had never missed a Screening Mammogram. I had ‘Clear’ Screening Mammograms in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
Had I known about Breast Density and my increased risk of developing Breast Cancer, I would have asked for the additional, essential Imaging that would have found my Tumour at a smaller, node negative, earlier and more treatable Stage. I was denied that opportunity.
At diagnosis, I was told that I would unequivocally require a Mastectomy and full Axillary Node Clearance, following months of Dose Dense Chemotherapy. After surgery, I had 35 Radiotherapy treatments to the Chest, the Axilla and the Internal Mammary Nodes.
How much of my treatment was avoidable?
Where Are The ‘Learning Points’
More than 40% of Women have Dense Breasts.
Breast Density is not palpable, it is not the same as having lumpy breasts. Breast Density has nothing to do with Breast size or shape.
The Radiologist who reads your Mammogram will know if you have Dense Breasts or not.
But here’s the issue……
When women go for their Breast Cancer Screening Mammogram, they are not Notified when their Mammogram indicates that they have Dense Breasts.
They are not told that up to 50% of Cancers are missed on Mammograms of Women with Dense Breasts and that they are 4 – 6 times more likely to develop Breast Cancer if they have Dense Breasts.
Breast Density shows as white areas on a Mammogram. Cancers also show as white.
It is like looking for a snow ball in a snow storm.
The efficacy of Mammograms to detect Breast Cancer in Dense Breasts is about 50%
We need a Standardised Breast Density Notification Protocol in line with European Recommendations from EUSOBI The European Society of Breast Imaging
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35258677/
https://www.radiographyonline.com/article/S1078-8174(23)00023-8/abstract
#besmartaboutbeingdense
#Morethanamammogram
Being Dense 