The column below reflects the views of the author, and these opinions are neither endorsed nor supported by WisOpinion.com.
You must have seen 1,000 posts about Breast Cancer Awareness this October but please keep reading, it might save your life. With 1 in 8 women developing breast cancer in their lifetime, you likely know someone directly impacted by it. Never in a million years did I think I would be a part of this statistic, but I am, and it almost killed me. For years my dense breasts masked a growing tumor, until it was almost too late.
My story isn’t an anomaly; it’s the harsh reality that many of the 40% of women with dense breasts face: a missed diagnosis resulting in a later stage breast cancer. Many people are unaware that having dense breasts increases both the risk of developing breast cancer and the likelihood of missed cancers on traditional mammograms. It’s a double-edged sword that’s impacted me, my close friends, my patients and countless women throughout Wisconsin and the country.
I was just 35 years old and a busy mother of two when I first felt a lump in my breast. After initial screening, I was told I “just had dense breasts” – nothing more. Six months later, with my symptoms worsening, I received the same message: “just dense breasts.” It wasn’t until 2.5 years after first feeling that lump, that I was diagnosed with Stage III, Triple Positive Breast Cancer. By that time, it had already spread into my lymph nodes and my tumor was the size of my entire breast.
When breast cancer is caught in its earliest, localized stages, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Supplemental screening techniques significantly increase breast cancer detection rates beyond traditional mammography in women with dense breasts. For example, between ultrasounds and MRI, incremental cancer detection rates can increase anywhere from 3.5 to 28.6 cancers per 1,000 exams. Had my cancer been caught sooner, my treatments would have been less invasive, more cost-effective, and of course my recurrence risk would be lower.
The fact of the matter is that early detection saves lives, but the supplemental screenings for women with dense breasts, and those with other high-risk factors, required to effectively identify cancers are often cost-prohibitive. The average out-of-pocket costs for diagnostic or supplemental breast screenings can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars, and the costs of long-term treatment due to a missed diagnosis can cost insurers hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.
Under current Wisconsin state law, health insurers are required to provide one annual mammogram to women under 50 and two to women aged 45-49 who meet certain criteria, all with no out-of-pocket cost to the patient. However, for women with dense breasts and others who have high risk factors, a mammogram alone just isn’t enough. The financial burden of supplemental imaging often forces many to forgo these additional screenings entirely, potentially jeopardizing their health in the process.
Over half the country has passed legislation that covers supplemental screenings for women with dense breasts. In these states, the increase on insurance costs comes to about $0.84 per member per year. Compare that to the costs of treating cancer that goes undetected for too long. A small investment on the front end can make a significant difference by enabling quicker diagnosis and effective treatment options for those with dense breasts and other high-risk factors. So early detection doesn’t just save lives – it saves time and money too. It’s a win for everyone!
As a mother of two, a wife, daughter, sister, friend, and occupational therapist, I am advocating for legislation and policies that recognize the life-saving importance of early detection for women with dense breasts and other high-risk factors. With breast cancer rates on the rise, I am inspired by the late Gail Zeamer, who paved the way for advocates like me, to continue fighting for Wisconsin women, ensuring they have access to life saving supplemental screenings.
It’s time to stop letting Wisconsin women fall through the cracks – insurance should cover the supplemental screenings we need. In Wisconsin alone, 5,710 women were estimated to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2024, with an estimated 680 women unfortunately passing from the disease. Imagine how many women could’ve been saved if their breast cancer was detected early.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I urge you to contact your local lawmaker and support initiatives that promote increased access to vital supplemental screenings for those with dense breasts by visiting earlydetectionwi.com.
– Ashley Inda is an occupational therapist and breast cancer survivor based in Madison.