FDA to mandate new mammogram guidelines on dense tissue

A new FDA mandate starts Tuesday that will require mammogram facilities to notify patients of dense breast tissue. NBC News medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar joins TODAY with how this may help detect breast cancer earlier.

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#fda #mammogram #health

[kimshermam]

My facility as always done this. Yes, FDA need to make the insurance companies cover the additional testing.

[roisinmc]

My mother had regular mammograms and cancer was missed. She died of breast cancer in 2022. She had always been told she had dense breast tissue. I found a lump and they gave me 2 mammograms before telling me i had to have an ultrasound as the tissue was too dense to see. The ultrasound took 5 mins (i had breast cysts). Why can't we just all have ultrasounds, it's just as quick, no radiaton risk and shows clear picture for everyone. I'm in the UK so there was no cost to me for mammogram or ultrasounds.

[GoogleLover-re]

The BIG MISSING PIECE is that we need to bring down the cost of ultrasound and revamp the mammogram technology!!!! Women’s health people! When is science going to research and develop new techniques for identifying breast cancer? It can’t ALL be up to the insurance companies.

[susangoodwin]

Insurance companies should be required to cover ultra sounds on dense breast, especially since doctored are required to inform patients of it.

[msvaleriah]

This absolutely should be required. My facility has done this for me too, for years. They've had me come back in for further imaging a couple of times, once with ultrasound, the second time, I was biopsied and all was well.

[kellyburnett]

I am so sick and tired of insurance companies !!! Doctors order tests for a reason !!

[criticaloptimist]

Why require a mammogram for these patients rather than just going straight to the alternative methods??? So frustrating

[JustRaine]

When I get my yearly mammogram they have always told me I have dense breast tissue but nobody offers any other testing. They inform you and that's it. If my insurance isn't gonna cover extra tests or screening it doesn't help. I can't afford to pay for more testing. My premium is almost an high as my mortgage at this point!Are insurance companies gonna cover more testing for those with dense tissue?

[monicarose]

FYI: Women who have never had babies nor breastfed and are still menstruating already have denser breast tissue; the mammogram simply confirms that. More mammograms increase exposure to radiation & they can't detect cancer that way anyway in dense breasts. Seems like the logical and safer conclusion is that once a woman knows she has dense breasts, confirmed by a mammogram, then regular sonograms are more accurate and cost effective to detect cancer, maybe fewer mammograms and more sonograms is the key for cancer detection in dense breast tissue...

[Bera]

I’m 38 and had my first mammogram earlier this year. Since my early 20s I always felt a lump in my right breast. Docs told me it was due to my cycle and dismissed it. So I did random self exams and put it to the back of my mind. Finally this year my PCP had me do a mammogram. I was confused when I got the results because it mentioned “dense tissue”. They did tell me to monitor it closely but never suggested an ultrasound. Definitely going to follow up.

Very helpful information! TY!

[kprobinson]

Thanks for covering this topic. I just paid $1260 for a supplemental screening. I hope insurance companies are forced to pay for this in the future.

[GreenVoyagerr]

Hopefully, all mammography facilities will eventually adopt 3D, aka tomosynthesis technology. This significantly improves the detection of cancerous tissue that can be obscured by dense breast tissue.

[kakerosa]

My dr has being doing an ultrasound plus mammogram for the past
SEVEN YEARS AND MY INSURANCE HAS ALWAYS PAID

[lane]

I had a lump removed many years ago at 19 years old. My aunt had breast cancer, and my mother had a benign lump removed as well. I also have dense breast tissue. I had to fight to get a scan done recently. It was so frustrating. I’m not going to die because you all can’t understand this.
I got it done eventually and got the all clear sign. Thank goodness. I’ll always get one now moving forward.
Thanks for getting the word out.

[nonawolf]

My Dr. insisted on annual mammograms even though I was always warned my dense tissue made the tests inconclusive. When I asked her why I should still get them, she said "It looks bad on me if I give you HRT without an annual mammogram." That was the day I switched doctors.

[bumblebee]

I have been told dense, but nothing else is ever done.

[lle]

I am so glad for this news, cervical cancer survivor here, has dense tissues and was trying to avocate for myself asking my family doctor to order ultrasound follow-up, but she keeps rejecting my request. I will send her this link tomorrow for one more try. The friend that I know died from breast cancer, and before dying, she tried to educate women not to trust mammograms. If you have dense tissues, you have to follow up with ultrasound

[FracturedOrigins]

My mother's was missed until stage 3, noted due to a lump in her armpit at that point. Please advocate for yourself if you feel something is wrong or being missed. ❤

[pricklypear]

My insurance sent me a letter last month saying that ALL BREAST imaging (including Ultrasound, MRI, Mammography) will be covered in full annually

[harveythepooka]

When I got my 2nd mammogram, they wanted a follow ups screening with another mammogram and an ultrasound. They said on the letter that I didn't have dense breast tissue. When I arrived it was about $350 out of pocket which I wasn't expecting since the mammogram was totally covered. This needs to be covered also, since that could be cost prohibitive to a lot of people.