Founders letter, October 2024

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2024, and this October, BeSound is focused on encouraging women everywhere to take their breast health seriously. Specifically, women are encouraged to learn about their breast density status and the commensurate need for better screening and detection for women with dense breasts. It is an incredible honor to be a part of the revolution in breast cancer detection for women with dense breasts, and BeSound’s goal, through its AI-assisted advanced ultrasound technology, is to help detect cancers earlier. As we all know, early detection leads to better treatment outcomes and saves lives. What could be more important than that?

BeSound is also delighted to welcome two incredible leaders to our Advisory Board. Dr. Rachel Brem, renowned Professor of Radiology and Director of Breast Imaging at GW University, Director of the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer, an innovator and proponent of better breast screening technology, and a tireless advocate for breast cancer patients everywhere, has joined the BeSound Medical Advisory Board. We also welcome Wellness Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Equinox Fitness Clubs, Lavinia Errico, to our Advisory Board. Lavinia’s work in fitness and wellness as an entrepreneur and angel investor, and her new venture, MoveJoy, have improved the health and lives of countless women.

Advocates for the “find it early act” testify before congress

BeSound supports expanded access to breast cancer screening and has joined in advocating for the Find It Early Act. We believe the passage of this important and groundbreaking breast cancer legislation will help women everywhere get the breast healthcare they need. The legislation was first introduced in May of 2023 by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA). It was also championed by journalist, anchorwoman, and breast cancer survivor Katie Couric, with the goal of expanding access to better breast imaging, including mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs, with no patient cost-sharing.

This is particularly important since women with dense breasts often require additional screenings beyond mammography. Currently, many insurance plans, including Medicare, will not fully cover the costs of supplemental screening, such as an ultrasound or MRI, even when recommended by a doctor. Because of this, many women are forced to pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for additional imaging. Women who cannot afford additional screenings may delay care and risk having a later-stage cancer diagnosis.

If passed, the bipartisan Find It Early Act would require private and government insurers to fully cover the costs of additional screenings for high-risk women, including those with dense breasts.

New density notification law passed

The FDA Breast Density Notification Law went into effect on September 10, 2024. Thanks to the tireless work of patient advocates, breast cancer experts, and many others, women with dense breasts will now have the information they need to advocate for themselves. Mammogram facilities across the country are now required to provide all patients with a federal notification statement listing their breasts as either ‘dense’ or ‘not dense.’

The mammography report sent to each patient’s referring physician must provide an assessment of density from one of four categories:

1. The breasts are almost entirely fatty.
2. There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density.
3. The breasts are heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses.
4. The breasts are extremely dense.

Access to this information is critical, because women with dense breasts also have an increased risk of breast cancer, with women in the highest density group believed to have as much as a four-fold increased risk. Since nearly half of all women over age 40 have dense breasts, knowledge of each patient’s breast density status can help their doctor determine the type and frequency of the screenings needed, including supplemental ultrasounds or MRIs.

Knowing your own breast density status can help you advocate for yourself and ensure any cancers are caught early when they are most treatable. This new law will empower women and subsequently save lives; it is a crucial tool in the fight against breast cancer.

Welcome to the team