When Mammograms Aren’t Enough: A Call to Physicians from Women with Dense Breasts

In her article To Our Physicians, From Women with Dense Breasts: A Call to Action (5 Things We Ask of You), Leslie Ferris Yerger shines a light on an important conversation about dense breast tissue and the role healthcare providers play in improving early detection. As CEO and Founder of My Density Matters, she encourages a more personalized, patient-centered approach to breast health.

She explains that nearly half of all women have dense breast tissue—a factor that not only increases the risk of developing breast cancer but can also make tumors more difficult to detect on traditional mammograms. Through five meaningful calls to action, she urges physicians to truly know, see, hear, collaborate with, and advocate for their patients with dense breasts.

The article also features powerful stories from women whose experiences reveal the impact of missed diagnoses, delayed care, and feeling unheard. At the same time, these voices demonstrate how informed conversations, individualized screening plans, and strong physician-patient partnerships can make a life-changing difference.

This compelling article is both an invitation and a challenge to advance breast cancer care through greater awareness, communication, and advocacy. It reminds us that improving outcomes begins with listening to patients and ensuring every woman has access to the information and care she deserves.