Editorial Backs Bill To Impose New Rules for Mammograms
A San Gabriel Valley Tribune editorial states that the "health care industry is ramping up opposition" to a bill (SB 173), by Sen. Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), that would require women who receive mammograms to be notified if they have dense breast tissue. It notes, "The industry opposes any mandate, particularly if it might lead to more testing." However, such tissue "can mask tumors and is the number one cause of false negative results," according to the Valley Tribune. The editorial continues that "for the more than half of all women with dense tissues, the current reports assuring them of normal mammograms are really dishonest -- particularly since their risk of developing breast cancer is five times greater than their counterparts with less dense tissue."
- "Bill Would Impose Simple Rules for Mammograms To Save Lives" (San Gabriel Valley Tribune, 7/8).