Huff Post - The Fog of Density: A Perfect Storm to Improve Breast Cancer Screening
When Nancy Cappello, Ph. D of Are You Dense Inc heard about my breast cancer diagnosis this past June she instantly related to my story since both Nancy and I had cancer that was not detected by a mammogram. This is because we both have dense breast tissue. Nancy discovered that 40% of women have dense breasts, and until Nancy was diagnosed in 2004, Nancy didn’t know she had dense breasts. The trouble is, many women are unaware of their dense breast tissue and they live their lives not knowing.
Dense breast tissue may cause cancer to go undetected in a mammogram. If a woman has dense breasts she should be speaking with her doctor to find out if additional screening is necessary. In my case (because of my dense breasts), I needed to follow up my mammogram with an ultrasound, and it was the ultrasound that detected my tumor. (After my mammogram failed to do so.)
Because of Nancy's journey, she has become a breast cancer advocate. Nancy is now the Director & Founder of Are You Dense Inc. & Are You Dense Advocacy Inc., two strong organizations whose missions are to spread awareness of breast density and the impact it has on breast cancer detection. In the following article Nancy writes about my experience with having dense breasts, as well as women's access to reliable and additional screening tests that can detect cancer at its earliest stage, and possibly save lives.
The Fog of Density: A Perfect Storm to Improve Breast Cancer Screening
For 17 years Joan Lunden wished America and me "Good Morning." When Joan Lunden talks; America Listens.
Her personal story of missed and delayed cancer because of her dense breast tissue leads her to advocate for the disclosure of dense tissue and access to reliable screening tests to detect cancer at its earliest stage...
Joan Lunden truly exemplifies today’s modern working woman. An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, motivational speaker, successful entrepreneur, one of America’s most recognized and trusted television personalities, this mom of seven continues to do it all. As host of Good Morning America for nearly two decades, Lunden brought insight to top issues for millions of Americans each day. The longest running host ever on early morning television, Lunden reported from 26 countries, covered 4 presidents and 5 Olympics and kept Americans up to date on how to care for their homes, their families and themselves.