Here in Texas, where HealthHelp is headquartered, a new law relating to mammography went into effect Sept. 1. Popularly known as "Henda's Law," H.B. 2102 requires the following to be conveyed verbatim by a mammography facility to each woman upon completion of her mammogram in Texas:

“If your mammogram demonstrates that you have dense breast tissue, which could hide abnormalities, and you have other risk factors for breast cancer that have been identified, you might benefit from supplemental screening tests that may be suggested by your ordering physician.

“Dense breast tissue, in and of itself, is a relatively common condition. Therefore, this information is not provided to cause undue concern, but rather to raise your awareness and to promote discussion with your physician regarding the presence of other risk factors, in addition to dense breast tissue.

“A report of your mammogram results will be sent to you and your physician. You should contact your physician if you have any questions or concerns regarding this report.”

So, women in Texas are now to be informed of their breast-tissue density, which may be discerned by mammography.

The purpose of this legislation is to educate women who undergo mammography that dense tissue may obscure abnormalities, such that supplemental screening may be helpful. Thus informed, women may be more proactive in their health care, if they so desire, by discussing with their physician the need for, and appropriateness of, additional testing.

Examples of such supplemental screening include whole breast sonography, MRI, and molecular breast imaging. I addressed in-depth the use of these technologies and the association between elevated breast-tissue density (BD) and decreased sensitivity of mammography in the June issue of Hiatt’s Insights. Read the newsletter in its entirety here. You can also read “Henda’s Law,” which mammography facilities must be in compliance with by January 1, 2012, in its entirety here.