[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1778-E1779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        THE BREAST DENSITY AND MAMMOGRAPHY REPORTING ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 5, 2011

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Breast 
Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011, which will provide women 
and their health care providers with the information they need about 
identifying breast cancer risks and help to detect this deadly disease 
at the earliest possible stage.
  One in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer in 
their lifetime. This year alone, more than 230,000 Americans will be 
diagnosed with breast cancer and nearly 40,000 women will die of the 
disease. We know that there are risk factors, things that increase an 
individual's chance of developing for breast cancer--gender, family 
history of cancer, certain genetic mutations, and numerous others.
  Among them is dense breast tissue. Women with more dense breast 
tissue have a relative risk of developing breast cancer that is four or 
more times higher than individuals with less dense breast tissue. And 
dense breast tissue may also make it more difficult to identify 
potential problems on mammograms.
  This bill seeks simply to update the information that women and their 
health care providers receive after a mammogram. By including 
information on an individual's breast density in these reports, we can 
raise awareness among both patients and their physicians. We can help 
ensure appropriate screening, and help make sure that more women are 
diagnosed at an earlier stage of cancer.
  This legislation has been endorsed by several national organizations, 
whose letters of support I hereby submit for the record. And it is 
based on strong legislation already enacted in my home state of 
Connecticut. But women should not live or die because of geography--we 
owe it to women across the country to ensure that they have access to 
the information they need to make informed decisions about their 
health. This legislation will help the women in our lives and their 
health care professionals access critical, potentially life-saving 
information, and I urge my colleagues to support our efforts.
                                                  October 3, 2011.
     Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro,
     House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative DeLauro: On behalf of the Board of 
     Directors of Are You Dense, Inc., we are pleased to support 
     the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011. The 
     grassroots breast density information effort began in 
     Connecticut in 2004 when I was diagnosed with an advanced 
     stage breast cancer after a decade of ``normal'' mammograms. 
     When I questioned my breast surgeon why my cancer was 
     detected at such an advanced stage, since I received a 
     ``normal'' mammography report a few months earlier, her 
     response was that I have dense breast tissue. This was the 
     first time that I was informed about this critically 
     important aspect of my breast health and what dense breast 
     tissue meant to me for access to an Early Cancer Diagnosis. I 
     began working with Connecticut State Senators Joan Hartley 
     and Joseph Crisco and, with their unwavering support for 
     Early Detection for women with dense breast tissue, 
     Connecticut established itself as a leader in state 
     legislation for breast density notification and expanded 
     insurance coverage for women with dense breast tissue. I am 
     so proud that you are leading the federal efforts to change 
     the outcome of an advanced cancer to an early stage cancer 
     for women across the country with dense breast tissue.
       Research for more than a decade demonstrates that women 
     with dense breast tissue' are at increased risk of breast 
     cancer and have only a 40% chance of having their cancer 
     detected by mammography alone. As density increases, the 
     sensitivity of mammogram to ``see'' cancer decreases. Breast 
     density is one of the strongest predictors of the failure of 
     mammography screening to detect cancer.
       A Harris Poll found that less than 1 in ten women team 
     about their breast density from their health care providers 
     and ninety-five percent of women do not know their breast 
     density even though it is one of the highest risk factors for 
     breast cancer. The Breast Density and Mammography Reporting 
     Act of 2011 will correct this fatal flaw in the Early 
     Detection of Breast Cancer by standardizing the communication 
     of breast density to the patient across our country. Breast 
     Density notification will help bring about a new era in which 
     women, in conjunction with their doctors, can make fully 
     informed choices about their breast screening and personal 
     surveillance.
       Thank you for giving Are You Dense, Inc. the opportunity to 
     support this important and timely legislation.
           Sincerely,

                                     Nancy M. Cappello, Ph.D.,

                                            President and Founder,
                                               Are You Dense, Inc.
                                  ____
                                  
                                                  October 3, 2011.
     Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro,
     House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative DeLauro, the Black Women's Health 
     Imperative is very pleased to support the introduction of the 
     Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011.
       Women with dense breast tissue are more likely to get 
     breast cancer, it is more likely to be aggressive, and very 
     likely to be missed on a mammogram. The Breast Density and 
     Mammography Reporting Act of 2011 corrects a fatal flaw in 
     the post-mammography patient communication. The inclusion of 
     breast density information in the lay letter, sent from 
     radiologist to patient, recognizes the importance of patient 
     notification of this risk factor. Without the provision for 
     this notification, the opportunity for an informed and 
     educated patient is tragically compromised. This legislation 
     will ensure that the 40% of women with dense breasts, armed 
     with critical information about their own physiology, can 
     have equal access to early detection of breast cancer.
       Breast Density notification will help bring about a new era 
     in which women, in conjunction with their doctors, can make 
     fully informed choices about breast screening and 
     surveillance.
       Thank you for giving us the opportunity to support this 
     important and timely legislation.
           Sincerely,

                                         Eleanor Hinton Hoytt,

                                                  President & CEO,
     Black Women's Health Imperative.
                                  ____

                                                  October 3, 2011.
     Hon. Rosa L. DeLauro,
     House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, 
         Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative DeLauro, Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. 
     is pleased to support the introduction of the Breast Density 
     and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011. It is in the interest 
     of public safety to enact a standard that requires doctors to 
     inform women of their breast density, its inherent risk 
     factor, and apprise them of the limitations of mammography in 
     dense breasts. Without this simple notification, women with 
     dense breast tissue, unaware of this critical piece of their 
     own physiology, and kept in the dark about density's inherent 
     risk factor, can hardly be considered informed participants 
     in their own health surveillance.
       Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast 
     cancer, it is more likely to be aggressive, and is more 
     likely to be missed on a mammogram. Over the past decade, 
     peer reviewed scientific studies have demonstrated that 
     mammography misses breast cancer at least 40% of the time in 
     women with dense breasts. The inclusion of breast density 
     information In the lay letter, sent from radiologist to 
     patient, recognizes the fundamental right of a patient to be 
     aware of her own density, her personal risk factor, and 
     supplemental screening tools which may be appropriate.
       We strongly support this timely legislation which will 
     prove life saving for so many American women.
           Sincerely,

                                                JoAnn Pushkin,

                                 Director of Government Relations,
     Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc.
                                  ____

                                           American Association of


                                    Breast Care Professionals,

                                                      Houston, TX.
       Dear Congress: The American Association of Breast Care 
     Professionals (AABCP) in collaboration with the AABCP 
     Foundation, strongly supports all legislation regarding

[[Page E1779]]

     research, education and early diagnosis of breast cancer for 
     individuals with dense breast tissue. We ask all 
     congressional leaders for consideration and co-sponsorship of 
     this legislation.
       AABCP is a non-profit trade association and foundation 
     dedicated to educating the public and promoting public policy 
     that is in the interest of the breast cancer patient, the 
     post-mastectomy amputee, and the providers who serve them.
       Currently, more than 2,500,000 individuals in the United 
     States are living with breast cancer. Each year, more than 
     200,000 people, 97% women and 3% men, are diagnosed with 
     breast cancer. Additionally, women with more dense breast 
     tissue have at least a four-time greater risk of developing 
     breast cancer than individuals with less dense tissue.
       Physicians and health care providers are the first line of 
     information during diagnosis and treatment. The provision of 
     more scientific and appropriate information regarding the 
     risks of dense breast tissue to individuals, immediately 
     after a mammogram, ensures receipt of timely information and 
     allows an individual to make a more informed decision 
     regarding their health care.
       The American Association of Breast Care Professionals 
     believes that women will benefit from knowing both that they 
     have denser breast tissue and the associated risks. When 
     dealing with cancer, knowledge is survival.
       We thank you again for your leadership and consideration of 
     this very important issue.
           Respectfully,
                                 Rhonda F. Turner, PhD, JD, BOCPO,
     President.

                          ____________________