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New Year! New Look! New Content!

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NEWS! Website Relaunch:
We’re welcoming change in the New Year! The DenseBreast-info.org website has been relaunched. In addition to a new look, the website now houses downloadable patient resources all under one roof – including patient fact sheets in 14 languages and a Spanish language hub. We’ve also updated our provider resources, improved our blog and press hub, and added downloads on state density inform laws.  Learn more HERE.

State Legislation Update:
Kentucky’s 2017  “density inform” law was written with a “sunset clause” and, unfortunately, expired on 1/1/21. DB-I website legislative content has been updated to reflect this change, including the map visual. Please note, the updated count for U.S. states that have some level of mandatory inform is 37.  There are now 4 states (Indiana, Kentucky, Maine and No Dakota) that have efforts for breast density reporting/education that do not require notification.

Europe/EFRS Update and Looking Toward 2021

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The European Federation of Radiographers Societies joins many other European groups sharing/linking to DenseBreast-info.org education resources for members.  Learn why EFRS leadership feels it important that providers understand the screening implications of dense tissue HERE.

 

Our Condolences:

DenseBreast-info.org, the entire breast imaging community, and women worldwide are profoundly grateful to Dr. Lawrence Bassett for his decades of significant contributions to every aspect of breast imaging: quality assurance, standardized reporting, education, scholarship, and friendship.  We mourn his unexpected passing on December 14, 2020.

 

This has been a trying, challenging year on many fronts.  We thank you for your ongoing support and for your continued focus on women’s breast health during a global pandemic. We send every wish for a peaceful holiday season to you and your family and our hopes that 2021 brings only blessings.

National Reporting Standard: Where We Are

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U.S. National “Density” Reporting Standard

As you may recall, 2019 saw progress on both the federal legislative and regulatory fronts for a national breast density reporting standard for patients and referring providers (learn more HERE).  The federal law directs the FDA, through the regulatory process, to develop reporting language and ensure that mammography reports and summaries received by patients and their providers include appropriate information about breast density – though no timeline was included.

So, where are we now?  Next steps would be the publication of the FDA/MQSA Final Rule and implementation period. While that was originally anticipated in Sept/Oct of 2020, updated timing has not yet been announced. In the meantime, individual state “inform” laws remain in effect and guide reporting requirements.

Educational Needs for European Providers and News Out of Canada

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Educational Needs of Referring Physicians

In the current issue of Radiology Today, our OB/GYN Medical Advisory Board members, Drs. Elizabeth Etkin-Kramer and DaCarla M. Albright, share their insights on the educational needs of referring providers, Women’s Imaging – Educational Needs of Referring Physicians in Managing Patients with Dense Breasts. Included is a Case Study in Education by Dr. Toula Destounis that details how her center addressed referring provider and community education when New York’s density inform law went into effect.

Canadian MAB Member News:

Congratulations to Dr. Paula Gordon, 2020 recipient of the Prix d’excellence – Specialist of the Year! Dr. Gordon, a tireless and engaged voice on the topic, is a medical advisor to both DenseBreast-info.org and patient advocacy effort DenseBreastsCanada.ca

New MAB Spotlight:  Dr. Jean Seely is Professor of Medicine in the Department of Radiology at the University of Ottawa. She is Head of the Breast Imaging Section at the Ottawa Hospital, Regional Breast Imaging Lead for the Ontario Breast Screening Program in Champlain region and Co-Chair of the Canadian Association of Radiologists’ Breast Imaging Working group and sits on the Executive board of CAR Mammography Accreditation Program. She is a Fellow of the Society of Breast Imaging. She is an Editorial Board member of Canadian Association of Radiology and Breast Imaging Journals. Her commitment is to reduce the mortality and morbidity of breast cancer and provide high quality breast imaging nationally and internationally. She is President of the Canadian Society of Breast Imaging. Her research interests include Breast MRI, breast cancer screening, quality in breast imaging and patient experience. We are delighted to have Dr. Seely on board!

Resource Updates and Extended Outreach

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Who Needs More Screening? Flowchart

The Who Needs More Screening? flowchart has been newly updated to reflect NCCN endorsement of contrast-enhanced mammography or ultrasound for women who meet criteria for screening MRI but are unable to have it; please discontinue use of any earlier version.  (European visitor access: click USA/HOME, and see dropdown in For Providers tab)

Density Education in Europe

The European Federation of Radiographer Societies (EFRS) will be linking to DB-I website/materials as a resource for their members. Through its member organisations, the EFRS represents 45 national societies/professional bodies, 66 academic institutions of radiography education, and more than 105,000 radiographers and 8,500 radiography students across Europe.

The International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) now includes the DB-I link within the ICCP resource portal of key resources. The ICCP is a group of organisations engaged in supporting country cancer control planning efforts. Through the ICCP, these organisations, including the WHO, CDC, NCI-USA, and UICC, are committed to working together to ensure that all countries have a well-resourced, quality cancer control plan, integrated with non-communicable disease control efforts.

RSNA

It is the time of year when many are normally headed to RSNA.  While always a wonderful opportunity to meet with our generous Educational Supporters and host DB-I’s annual MAB and European Ambassadors appreciation dinner, this year will be quite different. We wish all a productive virtual RSNA and look forward to seeing everyone in 2021!

Increased Reach of Online Educational Tools

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Online Resources During COVID

COVID has amplified the need for patient and provide online educational tools.  Medically-sourced DenseBreast-info.org has been a well-used tool during the pandemic and website visits topped 27,000 for the one-month period of October 15th through November 15th.  We project over 300,000 website visits in 2021.

 

Holiday Giving

Did you know you could generate charitable donations while shopping?  AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charity every time you shop, at no cost to you (Prime member benefits still apply). AmazonSmile donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to a charity of your choice. It is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the AmazonShopping app for iOS and Android phones. When prompted to select a charity, please enter DenseBreast-info – and then start shopping!

DB-I Updates for November 16

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The Patient Fact Sheet is now available in 14 languages; the latest to be added is Hungarian. If you can assist with translation in a language not currently included, please contact us.

Please join us in welcoming a new European Education Ambassador from Bulgaria! Our newest Ambassador:  Daniela Manolova, MD, Radiologist, Department of Diagnostic Imaging, University Multidisciplinary Hospital for Active Treatment, “Sveti Georgi”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

A new patient video, My Dense Breast Story, just out from a UK patient about a delayed diagnosis due to density.

A reminder that a patient Density Request Template was developed by Breast Density Matters UK and can be downloaded HERE.

Who Needs More Screening? UPDATE

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NEWS:  Who Needs More Screening? flowchart update

  • Our hard-working Medical Advisory Board has updated one of DenseBreast-info.org’s most frequently referenced tools. The  Who Needs More Screening? flowchart* has been updated to include risk assessment by age 30 and expanded the indications for supplemental MRI. It takes into consideration updates to NCCN guidelines and the recent publications from the DENSE trial and EA1141 (Comparison of Abbreviated Breast MRI and Digital Breast Tomosynthesis in Breast Cancer Screening in Women with Dense Breasts).
  • For those referencing or sharing the flowchart,  please discontinue use of any prior version. Please contact us for direction on the update.

*European visitors, to access from DB-I/EU homepage, select Home/USA, then “For Health Professionals, tab” and then “Flow Chart” in the dropdown menu. An update to the EU screening flowchart will follow. 

COVID and Screening

DB-I Europe Second Anniversary Update

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Two years ago, DB-I/Europe was launched in response to the growing need for a medically sourced resource on the topic for European health providers. European-specific content was created, and the website continues to evolve with new content development and expanded reach via collaboration with European health professionals, universities, and medical societies.

THANK YOU! At this milestone, we would like to acknowledge and thank our radiological European Education Ambassadors from 14 countries and extend appreciation to GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Hologic and Volpara Health for their ongoing grant support of this European educational effort.

– NEW: Our printable Patient Fact Sheet is now available in 13 languages.  Newly added: Bulgarian, Croatian, and Slovenian.  More to follow!

– DB-I Education Ambassador from Germany, Dr. Christiane Kuhl, explains the implications of dense tissue in a new ITN/Video

News On Medical Advisory Board And Europe

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DB-I/Europe

  1. We are delighted to share news of DB-I/Europe’s expanding reach.  There are a growing number of organizations sharing/linking to DB-I resources and supporting breast density education including Prevent Breast Cancer, eCancer.org, the European Society of Radiology (EU International Affairs) Patient Advisory Group and a new collaboration with the Outreach Research Innovation Group (UK), Manchester.
  2. DB-I’s European Education Coordinator, Cheryl Cruwys, has penned an article for Etcetra Online, Breast Density and Your Mammogram

Medical Advisory Board News

  1. Welcome!  Jean M Seely, MD, FRCPC, FSBI, has joined the DB-I Medical Advisory Board.  Dr. Seely is Full Professor of Radiology, University of Ottawa, Head of Breast Imaging Section, The Ottawa Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
  2. Congratulations! Kudos to Jiyon Lee, MD, FACR, FSBI, who has just been honored by being named a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.
  3. Engaged Voices: 
    • Drs. Paula Gordon and Jean Seeley were interviewed in a Global News interview about changes needed to Canada’s breast cancer screening guidelines.
    • Dr. Sally Herschorn conducted a live Q + A on Facebook promoting breast cancer screening

AJR Review Article

  1. A complement to the AJR review article Screening Algorithms in Dense Breasts has now been produced in video format.

OBGYN Reach Out

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Referring Provider Reach Out

Patient breast cancer screening discussions typically rest on the shoulders of ObGyns. How can ObGyns and radiologists collaborate on patient screening? What are patient discussion topics and what resources are available?  Please see insight in the OBG Management magazine article, How ObGyns Can Best Work with Radiologists to Optimize Screening for Patients with Dense Breasts, authored by our ObGyn MAB members Drs. Etkin-Kramer and Albright and Executive Director JoAnn Pushkin.

 

DenseBreastDay™

Our third annual #DenseBreastDay™ was another social media success! A round-up of the day’s activities and highlights are available HERE. Look for an expanded international effort in 2021!

 

Reminder: Free Access for October

A review article by Dr. Wendie Berg, Chief Scientific Advisor to DB-I, and co-authors has just been published in AJR.   It is an up-to-the-minute review of realistic screening options for women with dense breasts. The review includes a comparison of cancer detection rates, recall rates, and barriers to implementation of tomosynthesis, screening ultrasound, molecular breast imaging, MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography in women with dense breasts:  Screening Algorithms in Dense Breasts: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Spotlight on DB-I Research and Article Updates

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DB-I Research on Referring Provider Knowledge Gaps

Interested in key findings of DB-I’s second* research project on referring provider knowledge gaps? DB-I’s Director of Education and Epidemiology Research, Robin Seitzman, PhD, MPH, will present “Referring Healthcare Provider Knowledge Gaps about Breast Density, Breast Cancer Risk, and Screening” on Oct 14th at the Why Study Mammographic Density? Conference 2020 (conference begins Oct 12th).  The research will be submitted for publication shortly.

Risk Model Tutorial

We have been on an update roll! One of our recently updated and most referenced sections is the Risk Model Tutorial (European guests, please click HERE). The section includes details on how the risk models are used, risk model explanations, diagnostic considerations, and a risk model table which includes live links to each model. The latest content update is on AI use in risk models (within the Risk Model Explanation section).

*First research project: Radiologic Technologist and Radiologist Knowledge Gaps about Breast Density Revealed by an Online Continuing Education Course

New Opportunities for Engagement on Breast Density

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#DenseBreastDay™

The Sept 30th online education day, organized in conjunction with Yale Medicine, resulted in “likes”, shares and comments from patients, health providers and health organizations from across the globe. DB-I website visits exceeded 1,000 for the day.  Many thanks to our corporate Educational Supporters for their participation. We are still compiling social media analytics, stay tuned!

Australia: Density Inform and Education

A new patient video produced by InforMD, an alliance of Australian breast cancer researchers advancing knowledge on breast density, has been launched: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZHjEFGEtaA

Diversity in Screening Implications

A new webinar from the Hawaii Radiological Society and an article published in the Journal of Breast Imaging are just out on the topic:

New Study in Radiology on Supplemental Screening

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New Study

In a recent publication in Radiology, researchers from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden used AI to analyze breast density, presence of masses and calcifications, and differences between right and left breasts to successfully predict women who would develop interval cancer or advanced cancer in the two years after a normal mammogram; their model proved more accurate than traditional risk models and can augment genetic/family history to help identify women who should and, importantly, who should not have supplemental screening after 2D mammography.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Reminders

In support of #BCAM, DB-I has launched an education initiative for both the patient and health provider communities:

#DenseBreastDay™ is this Wednesday, Sept 30th. It will be a full day social media blitz for the general public hosted in conjunction with Yale Medicine. Educational tweets will be posted every half hour, please share! Europe-specific content tweets and posts in Spanish are included in the day’s schedule.

Dense Breast Day – September 30th

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#BCAM (Breast Cancer Awareness Month) is almost here and DB-I has launched education initiatives for both the patient and health provider communities.

#DenseBreastDay, September 30, 2020

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The third annual #DenseBreastDay is around the corner! This day-long social media blitz, hosted in conjunction with Yale Medicine, will take place Wednesday, September 30th, beginning at 8:30am. The whole day will be a reach out to the general public to raise awareness about the screening implications of dense tissue and breast cancer risk. Please mark your calendars for September 30, follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and feel free to join the conversation! Educational Supporters will be receiving the schedule of social media posts next week with directions to preplan your participation.

Review Article And “Why DB-I” Fundraiser

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Review Article

A review article by Dr. Wendie Berg, Chief Scientific Advisor to DB-I, and co-authors has just been published in AJR.   It is an up-to-the-minute review of realistic screening options for women with dense breasts. The review includes a comparison of cancer detection rates, recall rates, and barriers to implementation of tomosynthesis, screening ultrasound, molecular breast imaging, MRI, and contrast-enhanced mammography in women with dense breasts:  Screening Algorithms in Dense Breasts: AJR Expert Panel Narrative Review.

Why DB-I? Fundraiser

Heads up! This week, DB-I will be launching a fundraising campaign highlighting available website educational tools. Look for daily “Why DB-I?” social media posts throughout week and please repost and share! Find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

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