September 12, 2017 – Breast cancer risks associated with fibroglandular breast density are the subject of a new Spanish language video launched recently by DenseBreast-info.org.
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanic women, a population that is young and growing, yet underserved. During its initial posting on the DenseBreast-info Inc. Spanish language Facebook page, Información Senos Densos, the video garnered over 10,000 views in 72 hours. Currently it is also posted on the organization’s website and is being widely shared within Spanish-speaking communities.
Dense breasts contain a high proportion of glandular compared to fatty tissue. Density can mask cancers on mammography, leading to later-stage diagnoses. Research indicates that cancer detected at the earliest stage possible results in more positive outcomes. Therefore, understanding the implication of dense tissue is particularly important for this population segment. The six-and-a-half-minute video is a primer on breast density, its implications for cancer risk and screening, and appropriate supplemental screening tools.
Breast density notification laws are currently enacted in 30 states, encompassing 70 percent of American women. These laws require that some level of information about breast density be provided to women after their mammogram, but such notification can lead to questions. According to DenseBreast-info chief scientific advisor Wendie Berg, M.D., Ph.D., FACR, “Forty percent of women of mammography age have dense breasts. Breast density can compromise the effectiveness of a mammogram and screening tests such as ultrasound or MRI [magnetic resonance imaging], used in addition to mammography, substantially increase detection of early-stage breast cancer in dense breasts. Additionally, breast density increases a woman’s risk for the disease. Information about personal risk factors and breast cancer screening in dense breasts is important for all women. Patient content in Spanish broadens the reach of this educational resource.”
A Patient Brochure and Patient Risk Checklist are also available in Spanish on the organization’s website.
For more information: www.densebreast-info.org