Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011

The Black Women’s Health Imperative commends Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Steve Israel (D-NY) for introducing the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act of 2011. This groundbreaking bill would help women make informed decisions about their breast health and promote cancer detection.

Introduced in the House on October 5^th, the bill would require that women receive a report after her mammogram that contains information regarding her breast density. Patients whose reports indicate they have dense breasts will be informed that they may benefit from supplemental screening tests and should talk with their physician about the potential risks for breast cancer and value of additional tests.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among Black women; yet for Black women under 44, it is the leading cause of cancer death.  Dense breasts are one of the strongest predictors of risk for breast cancer and Black women are more likely to have denser breasts.  Because dense breasts make detecting cancer with mammograms harder, women with denser breasts may require additional testing to further examine a breast abnormality.

“A woman deserves to know. Information should not be withheld regarding special risks that could impair her health”, stated Eleanor Hinton Hoytt, President and CEO of the Black Women’s Health Imperative. “The Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act will help make sure that women receive timely information so that they can make the best decisions about their body.”    

Many women do not know what dense breasts are, that they have dense breasts, and the implications for their breast health. The Imperative believes that it’s important for physicians to become well-informed about breast density so they can talk with their patients about their risk. We see this bill as helping to facilitate that important conversation between patients and their providers.