New Mammography Law to Take Effect Saturday
By: Ali Touhey
Updated: January 16, 2013
It's a stark contrast from an appointment in 2007.
"My world came crashing down," Pat explained. "It was like hitting a brick wall."
That was the moment that Pat found out she had breast cancer.
" Because it was caught early enough it saved my life and I'm here today to talk about it."
Pat's a survivor and has been cancer free since October.
But, she's also smart.
Through conversations with her doctor, she knew she had dense breast tissue putting her at higher risk for cancer.
The new law taking effect Saturday requires mammographers to send a written notice to patients like Pat if they have that dense tissue.
"We want them to know that with dense tissue, mammograms are not 100%," said Dr. Avice O'Connell. "So they should get a careful exam by their doctor."
Dr. O'Connell is the director of the Highland Breast Imaging Center.
She says it's important for women to know when they have dense breast tissue even if a mammogram doesn't show signs of cancer.
"Two things that can happen. One, small cancers can hide in dense tissue and two, there's a very small increased risk in cancer in dense tissue. "
While O'Connell says the clause is meant to alert high risk patients, she's also concerned that it could create unneccesary panic or worry.
"It's good that patients get information but I think that they need to be aware that doesn't mean that they need to run off and get another test."
Although in Pat's case she wishes the law had been passed sooner.
"It's actually written there. It revalidates what you may not have heard in the doctor's office and you'll look at it and say, oh my, maybe I do need additional screenings."
