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Sharon's Story

Sharon and a friend, both in pink

Name: Sharon
State: Connecticut
Date of Diagnosis: November, 2009
Age at Diagnosis: 55
Stage of Diagnosis: 1
Time from "normal" mammogram to diagnosis: Same day
How was cancer detected?: By Ultrasound

Since my maternal grandmother died of breast cancer at 59, I received mammograms at an early age. I was often called back for a second round of mammograms or told to come back in 6 months. This went on for more than 15 years. So in November 2009, I was once again called back, but this time they decided to give me an ultrasound and an MRI. I was diagnosed with state 1 invasive cancer in my left breast. I was actually relieved to hear the news; finally something was going to be done.

In January of 2010, I found out about the CT density notification legislation that became law on Oct 1, 2009. This bill included offering extensive screening for dense breast tissue using an ultrasound or MRI. I then realized why, after all these years, the radiologist decided I needed more tests. If not for Nancy Cappello and the legislation that she pushed for I may still be walking around having my standard mammogram thinking I was safe and cancer free. This law saved me from a future diagnosis at a later stage and possibly a shorter life span.

I was very excited that Dr. Cappello was speaking at St. Vincent's luncheon. What an honor to finally meet her. I have tears in my eyes writing this.

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Are You Dense? Fact #1: Breast density is one of the strongest predictors of the failure of mammography screening to detect cancer.

Are You Dense? Fact #2: Two-thirds of pre-menopausal women and 40% of post-menopausal women have dense breast tissue.

Are You Dense? Fact #3: Adding more sensitive tests to mammography significantly increase detection of invasive cancers that are small and node negative.

Are You Dense? Fact #4: American College of Radiology describes women with "Dense Breast Tissue" as having a higher than average risk of Breast Cancer.

Are You Dense? Fact #5: While a mammogram detects 98% of cancers in women with fatty breasts, it finds only 48% in women with dense breasts.

Are You Dense? Fact #6: A woman at average risk and a woman at high risk have an EQUAL chance of having their cancer masked by mammogram.

Are You Dense? Fact #7: Women with dense breasts who had breast cancer have a four times higher risk of recurrence than women with less-dense breasts.

Are You Dense? Fact #8: A substantial proportion of Breast Cancer can be attributed to high breast density alone.

Are You Dense? Fact #9: Cancer turns up five times more often in women with extremely dense breasts than those with the most fatty tissue.

Are You Dense? Fact #10: There are too many women who are unaware of their breast density, believe their “Happy Gram” when it reports no significant findings and are at risk of receiving a later stage cancer diagnosis.