KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A new law goes into effect in Missouri January 1 that could result in more women getting cancer diagnosed early. The law addresses breast density.
When Leslie Greene saw her doctor in May and realized she hadn’t had her annual mammogram, she spotted a sign across the parking lot for walk-ins. So she walked into the facility at Saint Luke’s North Hospital.
“Then I saw another sign — 3-D mammograms. They explained to me they cost a little extra than what was paid for by insurance, but I thought that was a good idea,” said Greene.
It was, according to Dr. Jennifer Massengale, a breast radiologist. The 3-D mammogram revealed a spot in one breast. Dr. Massengale says it would have been more difficult to see on a standard mammogram. Greene has dense breast tissue.
“The denser the breast is, the harder it is to see a cancer because cancer is white as well as dense breast tissue.” said Dr. Massengale.
Dense tissue also increases the risk of cancer. Further testing showed Greene did have cancer. It was caught in the earliest stage.
“I’ve had a very good outcome, so it’s meant a great deal,” she said.
That’s the hope for other women with a new Missouri law that goes into effect January 1. It requires facilities to provide a notice to all patients following their mammograms. The notice says if the mammogram demonstrates you have dense breast tissue which could hide abnormalities, and you have other risk factors, you might benefit from supplemental screening tests. Those may include ultrasound and MRI.
“This is really to educate patients and open the doorway for communication,” said Dr. Massengale.
But the new law does not require facilities to tell each woman whether her breast tissue is dense. Greene doesn’t think the law goes far enough.
“But it’s a start,” she said.
Saint Luke’s says it will tell each woman in the same notice whether her breast tissue is fatty, scattered or dense. That’s even though it’s not required by the law.
Missouri is the 19th state to have some sort of breast density law. Kansas is not among them.
