Half of primary care physicians in California are still unfamiliar with the law mandating radiologists to notify women if they have dense breast tissue, and many don't feel comfortable answering patients' questions regarding breast density, according to University of California Davis researchers.
The California law took effect in April 2013, and requires radiologists to send patients whose breast density is defined as "heterogeneously dense" or "extremely dense" a notification letting them know dense breast tissue can make it harder to evaluate mammogram results and also be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The law is intended to raise awareness about dense breast tissue and inform clinical conversations between patients and physicians.
According to the UC Davis study, 49 out of the 77 California physicians included in the survey reported having no knowledge of the law, and only 32 percent of respondents noted an increase in patient levels of concern about breast density compared to years in the past. The study also found 55 percent of primary care physicians were only "somewhat comfortable" and 12 percent were "not comfortable" answering patients' questions on breast density.