\u201cMany women think that if they have a mammogram and it\u2019s negative, there\u2019s no way they can have breast cancer,\u201d said Dr. Kimberly Feigin, a breast-imaging radiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. \u201cThat\u2019s simply not true.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Food and Drug Administration starting Sept. 10 will require that women nationwide be notified whether their mammograms reveal dense breast tissue. Mammography reports will also encourage women to speak with doctors about their breast density and personal risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearly 40 states already require that women be notified about dense breast tissue. But there isn\u2019t consensus on what to do with such results. Many doctors encourage women with dense tissue to consider additional tests including an ultrasound or MRI. Others say further tests could lead to unnecessary procedures. Some aren\u2019t caught up on the trade-offs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-backed group that sets guidance on screening and preventive care, says there isn\u2019t enough evidence<\/a> to recommend more testing. And insurance coverage for ultrasounds or MRIs varies by state and insurer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n