Saturday, August 31, 2024

ADVANCING ON DENSE BREAST TISSUE : A 2024 REVIEW

A MESSAGE FROM WASHINGTON ON THE DENSE BREAST DISCLOSURE ACT: By Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro / Connecticut 3rd Congressional District

Today we celebrate the launch of the Food and Drug Administration's Breast Density Notification Rule. This is something that I have been working on for a long time. This issue is deeply personal for me. I am a 35 year cancer survivor. I'm alive today thanks to the grace of God, the care of hardworking medical professionals, the power of biomedical research and early detection. 

As you know, Connecticut led the way in mandating all women receive information about breast density. In 2009, this law was championed by my dear friend Dr. Nancy Capello, who passed away several years ago due to breast cancer. 99% of women who receive an early breast cancer diagnosis survive it, but Nancy went through multiple mammograms and doctors did not detect tumors until Nancy was told she had dense breasts. Had Nancy been notified of her status earlier, she may have been here today to celebrate with us. Nancy's husband (Joe Cappello) carried on her fight and their story inspired me. I teamed up with Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick to introduce the Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act requiring the Food and Drug Administration, which was ultimately signed into law in 2019. Now, the federal government is finally creating a national standard for notification. 

We are celebrating that progress today while also using this moment to call attention to the fact that for most women, these screenings will still not be covered by insurance. The next step is to mandate all insurance coverage, to cover screenings and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast MRIs with no cost sharing nationwide. 

I reintroduced the Find It Early Act with Representative Patrick earlier this year, which would require all health insurance plans to cover screening and diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and MRIs with no cost sharing. I'm also grateful that award-winning journalist and cancer advocate, Katie Couric, has continued to be a champion of this critical legislation and had the courage to share her powerful story about early detection, which has been so helpful in amplifying our efforts and reaching people across the country. 

The rule we are celebrating today is only one part of making screenings accessible. We must pass the Find It Early Act. Women's lives are at stake, and I will continue to fight like hell to get this bill passed. With that, I want to thank you again for inviting me to join you today. I urge you to keep up the fight. 

PATHOLOGICAL VIEWS OF DENSE BREAST TISSUE 

Written by: Dr. Robert L. Bard  (12/2023)
Edited by: Carmen Regallo-Dewitt

Decades since the advent of breast scanning technology, innovations in non-invasive diagnostic imaging provide new options in the field of early detection.  A mammogram can show how dense your breasts are including how low or high in density. However, over-compression artificially lowers the radiographic density.



 [Image 1] in this standard mammogram, a dense breast is presented side by side. The white shaped “V” that comes down the top center are the pectoral muscles of the chest wall. On the far outside, the white line is the skin outline of the breast. This is the dermal tissue causing the white line viewed enface.  Radiologists always study this for any indication of inflammatory disease of the skin or inflammatory breast cancer, which manifests itself in skin thickening.  Between the center wedge and the skin outline, you will find homogeneous cloudy areas with patchy black spaces within as an example of dense breast tissue. 

Usually, dense breast tissue appears white on a mammogram. We must identify them as one of two forms of breast density; one is called FIBROCYSTIC or fibrous [Image 2] which is homogeneously white. Occasionally you can see a branching of blood vessels, dilated ducts or a streak of fat inside the dense breast tissue. This is the most common type of dense breast tissue and generally seen in the over 40 population.

[Image 3] Another example of a dense breast shows the difference between homogeneous white versus the whitish area. This is filled with dark, wormy looking structures, which are the breast glands called GLANDULAR tissue. This kind secretes milk and its glands are often dilated. Both Fibrous and Glandular may appear similar under a mammogram as highly dense areas, but they look completely different under an ultrasound scan.  

Through ultrasound, we can check for tumors easily through fibrotic dense breasts because it stands out as a black region (or a black hole) within the white area. As shown in Image 3, a black hole could get lost, making it more difficult to image this type of dense breast.  In this case, a solution is the use of elastography [Image 4], which offers visual confirmation as indicated by color data. Elastography can measure tissue density (its hardness or elasticity) within the glandular breast tissue. 

This tissue type is more common in the under-40 age group and is associated with other glandular proliferation such as endometriosis and is reportedly linked to dermal inflammation. In published reports, comparative studies between FIBROUS and GLANDULAR breast tissue studies remain limited.  We are observing (especially in the younger age groups) expanding reviews of these types of tissue density aligned with the rates of breast cancer to confirm the rate of malignancy in tissue alteration from normal.





TRIBUTE TO A GLOBAL CRUSADER
(Play Video-L) The NY Cancer Resource Alliance gives loving tribute to Dr. Nancy Cappello, co-founder of "Are You Dense" and chief crusader of the mission to bring change to the protocols and standards of Early Detection.   Her organization embarked in a global advocacy project to win legislation for dense breast scanning and to bring awareness to the need for better technologies and imaging interpretation. Today, her loving husband Joe continues her unending fight to save more lives through awareness, advocacy and her crusade for change.  (Also see below to read her full story in our ORG SPOTLIGHT section)



Epigenetic Research Notes: Profiling the Dense Breast Paradigm (part 1)

 Coursework (Part 1) written by: Dr. Roberta Kline. 


As an Ob-Gyn physician and genomics specialist, I have spent the better part of 10 years translating research in the genomic and gene expression areas into clinically usable information for healthcare professionals. One of the biggest challenges we face when connecting research with patient care is the long delay in the translation process and dissemination of the information. It often takes 10 to 20 years for information (validated findings) that comes out of research to be applied in clinical practice. These delays result in many lost opportunities to provide better care for our patients. This is one of the reasons why I'm really passionate about accelerating this process and making it easier for clinicians and their patients to take advantage of cutting-edge information and new technologies. 

LINKING DENSE BREAST WITH BREAST CANCER
We have known for a very long time that there is an increased risk of breast cancer for women who have dense breasts. Until recently, the research has been lagging in terms of what's the molecular mechanism, why do dense breasts present an increased risk of breast cancer? Without this knowledge, we can’t address the root causes, and are left with a lot of trial and error based on incomplete understanding.  (see complete report)


LIVING WITH ENDOMETRIOSIS:
From an interview with MJ Smith

My personal and professional missions are both in women's health. By day, I work for a breast AI company focused on helping radiologists find breast cancers on mammograms. I chose this path because I believe in advancing causes that support women's health simply because women are core members of our culture and our families. I have had two family members, both maternal aunts, who died of breast cancer, - one at the age of 36, and an the other at the age of 52.

Advocacy for Endometriosis is directly related to my personal journey. Growing up with endometriosis since puberty, I've been to the emergency department probably over 20 times for pain or pelvic pain related conditions. The pain had me flat on my back for days at a time or falling out of bed with pain.  I drove myself to a Planned Parenthood in Minnesota where I grew up and was prescribed birth control to manage it well into my twenties.  Despite the hormonal treatments, I still had a series of episodes. 

Endometriosis is the uterine tissue that grows and implants itself outside of the uterus. Going through that pain is the result of a complex process, resulting in swelling and bleeding inside the interstitial spaces of my body. Women who have endometriosis also often develop painful cysts on their ovaries. 

I think the biggest reason you see women in the ER is pelvic pain. Women with chronic pelvic pain (which is often what endometriosis causes) are underserved by the healthcare community because we're constantly complaining of pelvic pain.  The ER is not where you want treatment because you see a different doctor every time you get admitted. With emergency imaging, you usually get a pelvic ultrasound where cysts can show up and they're quick to assume that you have a cyst, or a cyst has burst and this is why you're uncomfortable.  I think now you can do a pelvic MRI with contrast media- but it's still not enough to offer a definitive diagnosis.  (See complete report)




Decades since the advent of breast scanning technology, innovations in non-invasive diagnostic imaging provide new options in the field of early detection. These technologies directly align with breast density screening (and are part of the Bard Breast Density Diagnostic Program).







CONTRIBUTORS

ROBERT L. BARD, MD  (Diagnostic Imaging Specialist)
Having paved the way for the study of various cancers both clinically and academically, Dr. Robert Bard co-founded the 9/11 CancerScan program to bring additional diagnostic support to all first responders from Ground Zero. His main practice in midtown, NYC (Bard Diagnostic Imaging- www.CancerScan.com) uses the latest in digital Imaging technology has been also used to help guide biopsies and in many cases, even replicate much of the same reports of a clinical invasive biopsy. His most recent program is dedicated to the reporting of mental health diagnostic and innovative solutions including the use of modern neuromagnetic technologies and protocols in his MEDTECH REVIEWS program. 



ROBERTA KLINE, MD (Educational Dir. /Women's Diagnostic Group)
Dr. Kline is a board-certified ObGyn physician, Integrative Personalized Medicine expert, consultant, author, and educator whose mission is to change how we approach health and deliver healthcare. She helped to create the Integrative & Functional Medicine program for a family practice residency, has consulted with Sodexo to implement the first personalized nutrition menu for healthcare facilities, and serves as Education Director for several organizations including the Women’s Diagnostic Health Network, Mommies on a Mission. Learn more at https://bobbiklinemd.com 





Copyright © 2023- Robert L. Bard, MD & cancerscan.com. All rights reserved.


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Sunday, July 28, 2024

WOMEN’S HEALTH SPOTLIGHT: STATE SENATOR SAUD ANWAR - "TIME IS LIFE"

Click this banner for VIDEO and Press Release about the Natl. Dense Breast Disclosure Event



CONNECTICUT PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR UNDERSERVED WOMEN 

Produced by: Bobbi Kline MD / Roberta Kline MD #human design  #longevity #wellness

7/13/2024 ‐ The  Women's  Health  Collaborative  proudly celebrates the dedicated commitment and support of STATE SENATOR SAUD ANWAR (D‐South Windsor) of District 3 for his legislative work in health initiatives for women. A pulmonary physician  by  profession,  Sen.  Anwar  joined  public  office  in 2013 as mayor  of South Windsor,  CT  (until 2015, and 2017‐2019). 

Senator  Anwar  is  involved  in  humanitarian  and  peace initiatives  nationally  and  internationally.  He  is  frequently invited  to  consult  for  our  government  and  has  organized medical  missions  for  disaster  relief.  His  efforts  have  been recognized  at  the  state  and  federal  levels  and  by  several  professional  organizations.  He  has  received  numerous citations for his service to the State and is an expert on international affairs.[1] 

In 2022, Sen. Anwar was appointed Senate Co‐Chair of the Public Health Committee in the General Assembly. During his  term,  Sen.  Anwar  approved  Senate  Bill  1  (SB1),  taking  on  women’s  health  by  empowering  the  Public  Health Committee to advance breast health and breast cancer awareness‐ requiring the chairpersons of the public health committee to convene a working group to promote greater understanding of the importance of early breast cancer detection in the state. The working group shall identify organizations that provide outreach to individuals, including, but not limited to, young women of color and high school students, regarding the importance of breast health and early  breast  cancer  detection‐  and  submit  to  the  public  health  and  appropriations  committees  under  legislative proposals that will improve breast cancer awareness and early detection of breast cancer[1]. Another major focus issue also includes addressing SYSTEMIC RACISM in healthcare as a Public Health Crisis ‐ where underserved groups such  as  black  women  "are  up  to  four  times  more  likely  to  die  of  pregnancy  related  complications  than  white women"[2] 

PARTNERING  WITH  COMMUNITY  LEADERS  ON WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE
In  the  Fall  of  2023,  The  Women's  Cancer  Screening Coalition  (WCSC)  initiated  a  partnership  outreach  with community  leaders  to  unite  in  support  of  improving public  health  programs  for  women.  Dr.  Robert  Bard, cancer diagnostic imaging specialist (NY/CT) co‐founded a public  project  implementing  the  use  of Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound as an affordable and accessible  screening  solution  to early  detection.  "Aligning with leaders like Sen. Anwar is so inspiring to us all... we need to get the word out about the current health crises that continue to plague women of all ages‐ and the latest technologies and modalities that offer life‐saving answers to these issues." Upon  drafting  the  discussion  points  with  Sen.  Anwar’s  office,  Dr.  Leslie  Valle‐Montoya  (CA)  echoed  Dr.  Bard’s ultrasound screening plan for women.  Partnering with lawmakers and community leaders pursues a “more realistic and profound solution to any health crisis”.  She also reflected on Sen. Anwar’s women’s initiatives as “forward thinking and a logical roadmap  to  addressing  the  imbalance  of  accessibility  and affordability.” 

Upon a recent conference with the Women's Health Collaborative (WHC)  Mr.  Joe  Cappello  of  the  Are  You  Dense?  Foundation expressed his appreciation to the legislator's initiatives in women's health‐ during a discussion about the upcoming confirmation of the National Dense Breast Disclosure  Law  on September  10,  2024 at the  Connecticut  Legislative  Office  Building.  "We  have  always appreciated the great support of Sen. Anwar and his administration for women's healthcare... he is the 'real deal' when  it  comes  to  understanding  women's  current  health  challenges  such  as  endometriosis  care,  the  need  for improved early detection for younger ages and the link between breast cancer and dense breast tissue." 



Excerpt from the Women's Health Digest Podcast

WHD Podcast host Lennard Gettz discusses some of the most highly needed public programs for underserved women with state champion for women's health, Senator Anwar.  Explored topics included: improvements in early detection policies for women under 40, dense breast screening (to mitigate the possible links with breast cancer) and collaborating with insurance companies to allow better coverage for women's issues.  

Click more videos of Sen/Dr. Anwar:


FROM THE INTERVIEW:
By Sen. Saud Anwar ‐ 7/12/2024
As a health professional, I saw the failure at all different levels that led for a patient to be so sick and so unwell that they had to be in the ICU and fighting for their life. If you look at women's health, it's very clear that there is a delay in care.  At times, we are missing cardiac disease in women. We also know that sometimes their symptoms are not necessarily recognized and paid attention to the level that it should. Another example is endometriosis; it may take many  years  before  somebody actually diagnoses it, let alone treat it.  But  the  treatments  are somewhat limited.  

TIME IS LIFE
We've  done  a  good  job  in  raising awareness  on  mammograms,  but we  have  not  talked  well  enough about  the  limitations  of  the mammograms. We have not addressed the new tests that are going to be able to identify illness in a timely fashion. Time is life. And when there's a delay in identification of the disease, we are losing months or years of somebody's life. This is far too common in our public health system, in our clinicians, in our training, but also in the insurance industry's willingness to cover some of the tests. And a combination of all of these things are leading to our citizens, our family members, our spouses, our sisters, our mothers, our women in the community who are not getting that opportunity to be able to maximize their life full potential because their healthcare is not equal. 

Clearly this is well recognized especially in our minority communities such as the Latino, African American and Asian Americans communities‐ and especially in economically challenged areas. A combination of all of these result in NOT getting the care that they deserve. It's very clear that we have a lot of opportunity in education. We have a lot of opportunity and advocacy about this as well. So if you start to put all the gaps together, we can see where the missing links are and we can address those needs, starting with the medical and scientific communities‐ and go from there. 


COLLABORATION:
FROM PHYSICIAN TO LAWMAKER
In  healthcare,  it  is  truly  about  collaboration.  The overwhelming  majority  of  the  time,  a  village  of caregivers is working together to make sure that the outcome of  the wellbeing of a patient is going  to be the primary concern... and we do our best to take care of it.  There's many similarities between the hat I wore as a physician to serving my district and my state. So in this area, you also sit down and evaluate all ideas available to  solve  a  problem.  It  makes  sense  to  listen  to everybody  because  good  ideas  are  not  restricted  to one group of people or one political party or one specialty.  You look for the most efficient solution‐ and the more we disagree and come to a better consensus, the better it is because then we have looked at the pros and cons. You need to consider all the possible intended and unintended outcomes for assessment before you write a policy‐ with the foresight of how it plays out works in the future.  

FOCUS ON WOMEN'S HEALTH NEEDS
We are making sure in the state of Connecticut that we are protecting our women, and we are making sure that women will have the right to choose. That's one of the bills that is important to me. We have also been  able  to  make  sure  that  we  increase  the  coverage  for mammograms‐  especially  with  tomosynthesis.    This  imaging  feature can actually start to predict and identify the enhancement of cancers at an early stage. It's very critical to be able to do that. We were able to pass that  (bill) as well  ‐and  that's  something  that we are  celebrating because we are now able to identify these illnesses sooner.  

With respect to endometriosis, in the state of Connecticut at the University of Connecticut, we now have the means of keeping track of endometriosis cases. We have an entire department dedicated to looking at it and identifying ways to address that going forward. We put in seed money as a state to give us enough support that is going to result in hopefully getting NIH funds to Yukon for endometriosis research. We also have been looking at ways of working with insurance industry not to restrict care if somebody needs an MRI.  We are making sure that they will get that MRI if they have dense tissue. (This has been an ongoing concern). And if a patient has dense breast tissue, clinicians and that patient needs to be aware that mammogram is not going to be the best way to approach this, and they need to go further. So then we are trying to push on the insurance industry and to not restrict the care and diagnostic care that is going to be needed.  





WHAT DOES ADVOCACY MEAN?
By: Geri Barish / The Hewlett House
Decades into my life-long crusade to fight for cancer victims, I look at advocacy as waging a  relentless war from every means possible. It's about dedicated awareness and education about prevention and early detection.  It also means stepping up to the front lines for one's life, for someone you know or someone you love. It is not being afraid to stand out in the crowd and demand the need more research or hold someone's hand while we are calling for better methods and treatments.  It is standing up for what we believe in for tougher insurance laws to protect those in need. Bella Abzug told me if you have to knock down the doors in Albany or bang on the Front Door of the White House, don't be afraid to be heard!  Our outcry is for the people who need help... for those of us who have yet to be treated and those of us that need to be heard.  When your child asks you to make the cancer go away,  what do you tell them?  You do everything and anything you can to find the answers!  Sometimes we lose but we never give up. I know I will never give up. I lost my child but as an advocate I will keep fighting for yours.  

THE POWER OF ALLIANCE
By Noelle Cutter, PhD.
The Women's Health Collaborative for Breast Cancer is an outstanding initiative that exemplifies the power of community health and advocacy. By bringing together a diverse group of healthcare professionals, survivors, and advocates, this collaborative creates a supportive and empowering environment for women affected by breast cancer. The focus on community health ensures that everyone, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, has access to vital information, resources, and support services.

The collaborative's emphasis on advocacy is particularly personal with me in my own journey with women's health and dense breast cancer research. As both an educator, and research scientist, I am impressed by the collaboration across different sectors—medical, social, and educational—the initiative effectively addresses.  It is clear that the Women's Health Collaborative is making a profound impact by fostering a culture of openness, support, and proactive health management with their multifaceted approach in education, outreach programs, and community-driven initiatives.

Overall, the Women's Health Collaborative for Breast Cancer stands as a beacon of hope and progress, demonstrating the transformative power of collective action. It not only improves individual lives but also strengthens the entire community's commitment to fighting breast cancer and supporting women's health. I am thrilled to be a part of this outreach. Visit the WHC Women's Cancer Programs





References: 

1) PEACE INITIATIVES: https://www.saudanwar.com/about 

2) "Senator Anwar  Joins Senate Vote To Approve Comprehensive Bill  to Declare Racism a Public Health Crisis, Address Health Issues Exacerbated by the Pandemic & Strengthen Connecticut’s  Pandemic  Preparedness" https://www.senatedems.ct.gov/anwar‐210518





Sunday, April 28, 2024

Prenuvo: My Experience with A New Approach to Early Detection

THE PROMISE OF EARLY DETECTION
Roberta Kline, MD

Despite the promise of early detection, women have had a long history of underdiagnosis of health issues. Having practiced as a board-certified OB-GYN for 15 years, I know firsthand the importance of early detection for some of the most common women’s health issues, including cancer. After all, basic bloodwork, pap smears, and mammograms are routine parts of women’s health care. However, these only address a small fraction of the diseases and health issues that women can face throughout their lives. 

The failure of early detection can be due to many reasons, including a lack of effective screening tests, lack of support for the widespread use of current screening technologies, or lack of access to these services. Some diseases, such as endometriosis, ovarian and pancreatic cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease, have had no effective screening tests and are often not diagnosed until much later in the disease process. Others, such as brain or aortic aneurysms, uterine fibroids, gallstones, and cancers of the bone, liver, or kidney can be detected by currently available imaging, but these are not part of the standard recommendations. 

In a healthcare system that generally prioritizes disease diagnosis over disease prevention, this failure to adopt a proactive approach is not surprising. While enabling early intervention through prevention and early detection strategies is often cost-effective in the long run, it is often more resource-intensive in the short run. Changing this on a global level requires a different mindset and reorganization of resources. It also requires innovative ways of thinking and creating potential solutions. 

(See Full Story)



Cancer Science News features Dr. Ben Ho Park on EARLIER DETECTION
& THE TYPES OF BREAST CANCERS



Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, is Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). Dr. Park is also a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine's Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Park's research is dedicated to finding a cure for all types of breast cancer by investigating mutated and altered genes responsible for the development and progression of breast cancer, as well as genes that lead to drug resistance. He is actively involved with the VICC Breast Cancer Research Program’s clinical research team to translate his research into clinical practice and patient care.  (Complete interview & feature story)





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Tuesday, July 2, 2024

WOMEN’S HEALTH COLLABORATIVE GOES TO ALBANY


May 21, 2024, leading members of the NY Cancer Resource Alliance (NYCRA) held a special meeting with State Senator Patricia Canzoneri‐Fitzpatrick (of Senate District 9) to discuss critical issues associated with women's cancers. This initial meeting of the minds offered cancer updates from the field, including statistics, diagnostic trends and the continuing battle with restrictive insurance coverage.

Executive Director Lennard Gettz and Sr. Cancer Imaging expert Dr. Robert Bard outlined plans under NYCRA's Women's Health Initiatives sighting the ongoing cancer crisis in underserved communities. Among their programs included: (1) a Public Dense Breast Screening project (2) Earlier Detection for younger women ages 20‐39 and (3) the need to support a statewide Gene Predisposition testing.

Further topics of collaboration also included the ever‐haunting 'CANCER PLUMES'‐ or concentrations of breast cancer cases in specific geographic regions of the state. "Physicians have always held the responsibility to do more for their patients", says Dr. Bard. "Learning about the Senator's personal understanding about the cancer community enforced my faith in the public sector... and my own commitment to do more for the voiceless many with education and by supporting their health with early detection and second opinion diagnostics."

According to Dr. Gettz, "scheduling a Q/A with our local senator is a smart opportunity to ask the hard questions and inquire about how we can truly make a difference about women's health issues like breast cancer. Ultimately, we hope to have a public voice on our side to champion a crusade to save more lives." This year, NYCRA's outreach campaign blossomed directions for an expanded network of resources, empowering new action plans. "Our alliance is comprised of some of the most inspiring role models in the community", says Dr. Roberta Kline, educational director of the Women's Health Initiative. "The launch of our 2024 Women's Health Initiative is due in great part to our latest partner and cancer crusader Ms. GERI BARISH (R) of the Hewlett House... she introduced us to Senator Fitzpatrick and other local lawmakers and gave us great insight on community outreach. Her guidance turbo‐boosted our mission by finding partners who are truly supportive advocates for women's health!"


FROM THE INTERVIEW WITH SEN. PATRICIA CANZONERI‐FITZPATRICK ON IMAGING OF DENSE BREAST/BREAST CANCER SCREENING
"I had a personal experience where mammography showed nothing, but the sonogram did find a lump. So I am fully aware on a personal level that that sonogram potentially SAVED MY LIFE. Though it turned out to be benign for me, it was just very startling to know that mammography showed absolutely nothing but the sonogram did. So I fully support what (NYCRA & the Women's Health Initiative is) saying because I'm a product of that."

ON EDUCATION & AWARENESS
I recognize that we need to make education available. We need continue supporting the groups that are trying to bring awareness to underserved communities. I serve on the Women's Issues Committee, and we frequently are dealing with issues that are affecting minority groups and underserved communities. I continue to support those efforts. I can tell you that there is a bill that I supported to ensure ovarian cancer survivors have the right to screenings for their health conditions, for which they're at a high risk, because we need to continue the screening to prevent these illnesses from progressing.

On the men's side, my husband was only 42. He had never had a colonoscopy and screening could have saved his life. So yes, a different cancer but the premise is there that we need to have education and more screening. We need to make it available in order to address the under‐diagnosis of these women's health issues.


Public Service Announcement

LONG ISLAND BREAST CANCER CASES AND ACTION STEPS
There were multiple bills that I've supported regarding clean water efforts, because I do think, especially on Long Island with our breast cancer rates being so high, most people think it comes from the water. The fact that we're the fourth highest death rate, that that's not a statistic that we want to have ...Are we doing better with our screening? Are we doing better with detection? We need to continue to improve. I will say that as we've discussed research funding for research to try to figure out what is driving these high rates of cancer, is certainly something that I think we need to continue to advocate for funding for the research funding for water testing. 


Video News Release: Innovations in Early Detection

"Are You Dense?" Foundation Co-founder Joe Cappello joins the medical diagnostic community to promote the "Get Checked Now!" campaign. Dr. Robert Bard from the Bard Cancer Center (NYC) supports supplemental imaging including the 3D Doppler Ultrasound scanner to offer dense breast detection.  This video presents some of the latest advancements in ultrasound features to detect tumors through dense breast tissue- reportedly a significant challenge with mammograms. 


My mobile mammography event program (in Elmont, NY) promotes early detection and saving lives. We're trying to get that message out because Elmont is a community that we want to get the same access to healthcare, and we need to bring awareness to them and bring that mobile unit there. Now, we just discussed how maybe ultrasounds might have been a better way, but these are the tools that are open to me, and I certainly will continue to advocate for them. One of the groups was the (Adelphi) New York statewide breast cancer hotline and support group. And I advocated and wrote letters to make sure that they were funded because their hotline is serving so many people. That's a privately funded program that's (now) getting some support from the state. We need to continue to have screening partnerships like this‐ and with local hospitals to make sure that we are getting out the word to people that they go for their screenings.


UNDERSERVED WOMEN
Breast cancer cases in younger women 20‐39)‐ It's so disturbing to hear that statistic from a research standpoint. It looks to me that when you have breast cancer that young, that it's from an environmental impact. If there's genetic history, we need to make sure that we're getting those young women and young girls to the proper detection screenings‐ especially if there is a family history.

I think that that's very critical that we continue to educate this age group. It's really very disturbing, especially because I have three daughters and to think about them getting sick at that age is really very troubling. I think we have to start even in schools and make sure that they are aware of the value of self‐exams. If there is a history, they need to get to their doctor sooner. And in those cases, I do think that the insurance should cover it. I don't think we should be bound by insurance companies telling us how to practice healthcare. That's a big problem. My insurance didn't want to cover my sonogram. They wanted to provide mammograms every other year, but not the sonogram. So I do think we can do better here... to make sure that the insurance companies are protecting these women.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
I see a couple of barriers; I'm sorry to hear that reaching out to the OBGYNs has not been successful because certainly I would think that they want their patients to do well. I would think that it needs to start at the top with the Department of Health, requiring education of the doctors regarding these issues. And if we can potentially pass legislation that says that the Department of Health has to come out with regulations to require these doctors to have updates to their best practices and standards,

then you're going to see that "okay, now I have to do it!". The barrier (of resistance) that we mentioned which of course is always there, and it's also from the insurance and getting them to pay for it. So I think if we start with Department of Health and they come out and say that this is the best practice, they educate the doctors and then it becomes a dictate on the insurance companies that they are need to give those screenings. If there's a determination that this woman needs to have a sonogram and a mammography at an earlier age, that's where I think you can actually get some results. I think we need to start at the top at the Department of Health and talk to them and see how we make this change.

LEGISLATIVE VOICE
The way it (kind of) works up here in Albany is that if you've got a point that you're pushing and you have a lobbyist that's trying to get you heard, you can talk to them about what legislation you think would help you‐‐ that's typically the process. And if you don't have somebody that's doing that for you, I certainly would be happy to be a person that presents legislation that would help your cause and what you're doing. So I'm happy to be a voice for you in Albany if you tell me what we can do to help you. 

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Public Service Announcement



Tuesday, May 14, 2024

"BOTH MY PARENTS HAD CANCER... I NEED TO TEST!

Originally published in Health Resource Digest (5/1/2024)

Samantha Hunt, 24 is a young cancer awareness advocate due mostly to the upbringing of two cancer survivors who are outspoken about environmental cancers and proactive testing ("Get Checked NOW!" program).  She is in a graduate program for social work and grew up in a household in support of prevention and early detection.
Since she was 9 years old, Samantha took on personal studies on breast cancer when she watched her mother (Jennifer) undergo a bilateral mastectomy for early-stage breast cancer.  Samantha's father was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, and her maternal aunt also had breast cancer. By her late teens into her college years, Samantha was convinced that she needed to have early screening, which is when she discovered she had dense breast tissue- a condition that is present in over half of women in the U.S.  [12]

Though currently testing negative for cancer, Samantha continues to undergo early detection through gene testing, ultrasound screening and maintains a significantly strict lifestyle of prevention (eating healthy/organic foods, no sugar, exercise, organic foods etc).  Early in life, she learned the value of staying proactive and getting a second opinion- never resting on reassuring words from physicians.  "Early on, my gyno didn't express any real sense of urgency about me getting an ultrasound test but gave me the referral just to make me happy...", stated Ms. Hunt.  "Even today (and sometimes even in the past with other breast exams), I often feel like they do it so quickly and carelessly, and I feel stressed out after...  I'm not convinced that I'm getting a proper examination!"


Samantha has received a total of 4 biopsies due to the "abnormally dense" breast tissue- a concern that scientists are now linking to breast cancer. [13] At an early age, Samantha took on a significant leadership role in her health to approve the biopsies despite the risk and concerns from her parents. "After my first sono, they found me to be 'very lumpy' and called on me to get a biopsy.  None of us were excited about this but if I was going to get any peace of mind, I made a decision to go for it and I'm glad I did. Honestly think I'd be more anxious knowing there's something that a doctor recommended that I should get a biopsy on!"


Part 2: 27 Year Old Stage 3 Breast Cancer Victim Survived - Despite of Docs Who MISDIAGNOSED!

 

The Women's Health Collaborative and EARLIER DETECTION advocate Alexandra Fiederlein interviewed breast cancer survivor Jamie Butera about her journey to getting checked to save her own life.  When her own doctor said, "You're Way to Young for it to be Breast Cancer"- Jamie's instincts told her different.  By 'demanding' the right screening and tests, she found that she had Stage 3 breast cancer. "Be your own advocate, get the answers you deserve... if I didn't seek answers when I did, I would only have had 2 months to live!" (See complete story)





June 30, 2024- In our unending search for inspiring clinicians and health specialists in the life-saving battle against cancer, our next spotlight goes to Rajiv V. Datta, MD, Director of the Division of Surgical Oncology and Head and Neck Surgery.  Dr. Datta is also the Medical Director of the Mount Sinai South Nassau. Dr. Datta is one of the leading head and neck surgeons in the U.S. and an international leader in surgical oncology.

A major concern is the presence of breast cancer in underserved communities, including those TOO YOUNG FOR A MAMMOGRAM.  Whereby the medical community touts the recommended (and legal/billable status) of getting a mammo scan should be between 40-50, what happens to the many women who do not fit this age criteria?  How would they even know to get checked without the support of their clinicians or an alarm from family history? Decades into the battle against breast cancer, clinicians and the public are much more educated about EARLY DETECTION, PREVENTION and the current protocols and modalities available to save lives.  Recent headlines on DENSE BREAST and the advancements in ULTRASOUND SCANNING supports a major part of this battle. SEE COMPLETE FEATURE


WATERBURY, Conn. (October 12, 2023) JOE CAPPELLO/ARE YOU DENSE? FOUNDATION RECEIVES KEY TO THE CITY FROM MAYOR O'LEARY
Waterbury celebrated a citywide Pink Out on Thursday, October 26th! Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation has once again partnered with the City of Waterbury to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness. Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary, Saint Mary’s Hospital President, Kim Kalajainen and special guest Joe Cappello will address organizers and volunteers from the Waterbury Police and Fire Departments as well as the Education Department, area students and others at 11:00 a.m.  at Waterbury City Hall.  


VIDEO SPOTLIGHT:
Cancer Science News features Dr. Ben Ho Park on EARLIER DETECTION & THE TYPES OF BREAST CANCERS



Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, is Director of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC). Dr. Park is also a Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine's Division of Hematology and Oncology. Dr. Park's research is dedicated to finding a cure for all types of breast cancer by investigating mutated and altered genes responsible for the development and progression of breast cancer, as well as genes that lead to drug resistance. He is actively involved with the VICC Breast Cancer Research Program’s clinical research team to translate his research into clinical practice and patient care.  (Complete interview & feature story)

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

PinkSmart NEWS: National Dense Breast Disclosure Law 9/10/2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

National Dense Breast Disclosure Law, takes effect on 9/10/2024

6/18/2024 - Hartford, CT.  The Are You Dense Foundation is proud to confirm the National Dense Breast Disclosure Law on September 10, 2024 at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building. This groundbreaking law aims to empower women by ensuring they receive crucial information about their breast density during mammography screenings.

Connecticut is taking the lead in championing breast density awareness, recognizing the importance of transparency and informed decision-making for women's well-being. The National Dense Breast Disclosure Law requires healthcare providers to inform patients about their breast density during mammography screenings. By providing this vital information, women can better understand their individual risk factors and seek appropriate medical care. Together, we will celebrate this historic moment and the power of knowledge in women's healthcare decisions.

This event marks a significant milestone in women's health.  According to co-founder and executive director Joe Cappello, "this law is a bold step in implementing this law is expected to set a national precedent...  in September, this law will become effective nationwide, ensuring that women across the country have access to this essential information.  This law showcases Connecticut's commitment to women's health and its determination to make a positive impact on a national scale. By raising awareness about breast density and empowering women with knowledge, lives can be saved and the overall well-being of women can be improved." 

This event is welcome to the public to attend. September 10, 2024 (11am - 1pm) at the at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building 300 Capitol Ave #5100, 2nd Floor, Hartford, CT. There will be guest speakers and a light lunch. For more info, visit: www.AreYouDense.org and www.AreYouDenseAdvocacy.org

 From the press room of:



REMEMBERING NANCY
6/15/2024- In celebration of the upcoming birthday of the late Dr. Nancy Cappello (Oct. 30), the ICRS (Integrative Cancer resource Society) gives honor to her courage and life-saving pursuits to bring global awareness about the risks of Breast Cancer from the link to dense breast tissue.  Dr. Cappello’s work to inform women about the risks of dense breast tissue led to density inform laws in 35 states.  Her advocacy also led to bringing clinical reform to earlier detection screening. According to Dr. Roberta Kline (Women's Health Digest medical publisher) and Dr. Leslie Valle- Montoya (ICRS exec. director), "...though we all know her passing to earmark a major movement in women's health, honoring the birthdate of such a figure posthumously (we feel) better resonates a more loving and eternal remembrance of message by breathing continued life to her legacy!"  (See original source: ITN NEWS)

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