May 8, 2014
FujiFilm presents Educational Symposium in Portland Oregon Navigating through the Dense Breast Imaging Landscape Symposium dedicated to Laura Caldwell, Breast Health Advocate, from Eugene, Oregon
Senator Steiner-Hayward, MD, Julie Emry, Nancy M Cappello, PhD, Amy Thurmond, MD, Toni Storm-Dickerson, MD
The Grand Ballroom of the Multnomah Athletic Club in Portland was the venue for the Educational Symposium addressing the issue of dense breast tissue and its impact on missed, delayed and advanced-stage cancers.
Oregon's breast density reporting law became effective January 1, 2014.
Special guest and keynote speaker was Dr. Nancy Cappello, Founder of Are You Dense Inc. and Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. Joining Dr. Cappello were Senator Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward, a physician who championed the Oregon Breast Density Reporting Bill through the legislature, Dr. Toni Storm-Dickerson, Surgical Oncologist and Dr. Amy Thurmond, Diagnostic Radiologist.
The symposium was dedicated to Eugene OR resident, Laura Caldwell, the inspiration behind the Oregon Breast Density Reporting Law.
Laura Caldwell of Eugene worked with the legislature to help other women avoid a tragedy of a late-stage diagnosis. She advocated for women to be notified of their dense breast tissue. Laura's cancer,missed by mammography because of her dense breast tissue, was diagnosed at stage 3 and has since progressed to stage 4. View a short video of Laura here.
Update: Sadly, Laura died on May 16, 2014. Her story of late stage breast cancer, despite never missing a mammogram, is why we advocate for dense breast tissue reporting and access to screening beyond the mammogram. Laura's wish was to ensure that no other woman suffers the tragedy of a late state diagnosis, which can be avoided. Her fervent advocacy in Oregon will help innumerable women in the state to have access to an early diagnosis and potentially save lives from this devastating disease.
Laura Caldwell