Decade of 'normal' mammography reports--the happygram

Abstract

Interest in breast density reporting legislation has accelerated in the past several years, driven primarily by patients turned advocates under the mentorship and leadership of Are You Dense, Inc, and Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. The history of the density reporting movement and the birth of education and advocacy nonprofits are described, along with how legislative efforts began. The decades of scientific research on dense tissue's masking effect and its being established as an independent risk factor for breast cancer are summarized. Finally, the opposition's arguments against density reporting legislation are addressed.

Keywords: Breast cancer screening; dense breast tissue; interval breast cancer; legislation; patient advocacy; public policy.