ST. PAUL, MN – Today, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of state lawmakers in the Minnesota House of Representatives approved a bill authored by State Representative Tom Anzelc (DFL – Balsam Township) designed to save lives in the fight against breast cancer.
Anzelc’s bill (House File 2551), which was included as an amendment to the Health and Human Services Policy Omnibus bill, passed by a vote of 126-7.
HF 2551 builds on existing federal law that requires communication of mammography results to patients and health care providers within 30 days of the examination. Anzelc’s bill requires the facility performing the mammogram to communicate to the patient that she has dense breast tissue and that it may increase the risk of breast cancer.
“This is a commonsense measure that improves Minnesotans’ ability to make informed choices with their families and doctors about their health,” said Anzelc. “It allows a woman to know that dense breast tissue is an issue that may require special attention by the patient and clinical professionals.”
The National Cancer Institute calls dense breasts “a strong risk factor for developing breast cancer.” In addition, dense breast tissue makes it harder to detect cancer. For example, dense breasts appear white on mammograms, and so does cancer, so the tissue can hide tumors.
The American Congress of OB-GYN’s (ACOG) and the Minnesota Radiological Society both support Anzelc’s bill.
Suggested language to be added to required mammography reports provided to patients and health care providers reads as follows:
“Your mammogram shows that your breast tissue is dense. Dense breast tissue is relatively common and is found in more than 40 percent of women. However, dense breast tissue may make it more difficult to identify precancerous lesions or cancer through a mammogram and may also be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. This information about the results of your mammogram is given to you to raise your own awareness and to help inform your conversations with your treating clinician who has received a report of your mammogram results. Together you can decide which screening options are right for you based on your mammogram results, individual risk factors or physical examination.”
Rep. Anzelc encourages his constituents to contact him with questions, comments or any other feedback. He can be reached by phone at (651) 296-4936, by email at rep.tom.anzelc@house.mn or by postal mail at 517 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.