Orange Coast Memorial Foundation and The Ferragamo Foundation Host Beyond The Mammogram: Exploring Options in Breast Cancer

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. – In its continued efforts to increase awareness about the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, the Orange Coast Memorial Foundation is teaming up with The Ferragamo Foundation to host an educational event, Beyond the Mammogram: Exploring Options in Breast Cancer Detection, on Thursday, September 17th at 6 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach.

Highlighting the event are special guest speakers Richard Reitherman, Ph.D., M.D., medical director of breast imaging at the MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Memorial and Nancy Cappello, Ph.D., founder and executive director of Are You Dense, Inc. and Are You Dense Advocacy, Inc. They will provide attendees with the latest clinical research and treatment trends as well as their respective opinions on the efficacy of the “Patient Dense Breast Notification Laws.”

Dr. Reitherman’s clinical and research interests focus on improving the efficiency of breast cancer screening by optimizing multimodality imaging using standardized work flow algorithms based on individual risk and breast density profiling. He has provided expert testimony and consultations to legislatures and advocates across the United States in support of “Patient Dense Breast Notification Laws.”

“We have made significant progress in educating both clinicians and women about the screening challenges associated with dense breasts, but there is still much work to be done,” explained Dr. Reitherman. “Internationally respected patient advocates like Dr. Cappello enable us to continue to spread the lifesaving message about dense breasts so patients are empowered to have an informed conversation with their physician about which screening is right for them.”

Motivated by her advanced-stage breast cancer, which was undetected by mammography because of dense breast tissue, Dr. Cappello inspired the first density reporting law in the nation, ushering in a patient-advocacy movement in the U.S. and internationally. For more information about Dr. Cappello and her mission to increase awareness about dense breasts, please visit www.areyoudense.org.

“I am honored to be part of the Orange Coast Memorial Foundation’s and The Ferragamo Foundation’s joint program, which encourages empowerment and education for women in the areas of breast health and dense breast tissue notification,” states Dr. Cappello. “I am especially honored to share the evening with renowned radiologist and researcher Dr. Reitherman, who has joined us in championing a woman’s right to know her breast density post mammogram. With our goals aligned, together we’re a formidable force, enabling us to further positive change in the health and lives of women.”

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women today. In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women and approximately 40,290 women will die from it. The good news is that with regular breast cancer screenings, most women can significantly increase their chances of beating the disease.

MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Memorial provides comprehensive, high-quality services to over 16,000 patients annually. The Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and the American College of Radiology.

Through its annual Fight with Grace luncheon, The Ferragamo Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to help in the fight against breast cancer. To date, Jodi Ferragamo and her team have raised over $300,000 for the MemorialCare Breast Center at Orange Coast Memorial.

The Orange Coast Memorial Foundation continues to raise funds for advanced screening technologies and treatments to help provide its served communities access high quality, clinically proven cancer care.

For more information about the event and to RSVP, please call Orange Coast Memorial Foundation’s event specialist Samantha Durbin at 714-378-7422; e-mail her at sdurbin@memorialcare.org; or visit www.MemorialCare.org/SupportOrangeCoast.