Bill would require Iowa mammogram providers to also provide breast density info

Legislation that would require facilities offering mammograms to also give patients information on breast density will be considered by state lawmakers.

Democratic Rep. Helen Miller of Fort Dodge is the leading sponsor of the bill, which is scheduled for debate by a House subcommittee on Wednesday.

Women who have dense breast tissue have a greater risk of developing breast cancer than women with more fatty tissue, and it can be harder for a mammogram to catch a possible tumor.

The advocacy group Are You Dense says five states have established similar laws, including New York, Texas and California. A recent study by the American Cancer Society showed that women with denser breasts had the same chances of breast cancer survival as patients with less dense breasts.