Empower Community

This request also costs no $$. Help us make sure that the information out there is accurate and that patients are receiving the best care possible, not just "standard of care."

As you research breast cancer screening on your own, you will come across statements that mammograms are effective for early detection of breast cancer. For example, the American Cancer Society (ACS) states (scrolling down to Mammogram section), "Mammograms are low-dose x-rays of the breast. Regular mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most successful."

That is NOT fully correct. (In the above example, the second ACS paragraph (in the "Mammogram" section) concedes that mammograms are "not perfect," although it does not elaborate on how ineffective they are for early detection of 40% - 80% of women with dense breasts, and for women with lobular cancer).

There are many such sites, and there is a working list below the Empower Action 2 requests. The requests below are tailored to the ACS site, but can be modified as you see fit for 'deserving' sites.

Empower Action 2 requests for you (and your friends) are:

1 -- Please copy the following (or write your own):

You state on your web site that mammograms can help find breast cancer at an early stage.

Unfortunately, your statement is incomplete.

Your statement would be more informative if phrased:

"Mammograms can help find ductal breast cancer (80% of breast cancers) in fatty breasts (10% - 20% of women) at an early stage.

However, they are NOT effective for dense breasts (40% - 80% of women) nor for detecting lobular breast cancer (second most common breast cancer). Please contact your doctor for supplemental screening options that will be effective for BOTH dense breasts and lobular cancer. Early stage is when treatment is the most successful."

Please change your statement to inform women fully.

Informed -- and empowered -- the many women who trust (and rely on) your site can insist on effective screening for breast cancer from their doctors directly: self-paid, HSA reimbursed, or insurance-covered (Pennsylvania and other states).

Best Regards,

A Woman with Breasts (and even knows a few)