Slossberg Tours Med. Facility for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

From the Kowalski Group: The Radiological Society of Connecticut has honored Sen. Gayle Slossberg for her consistent support of patient-friendly healthcare legislation that can improve the detection of breast cancer in women.

As part of this, Slossberg recently toured a local radiology facility to promote Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Senator Slossberg has been a leader in promoting effective strategies to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in Connecticut, and the radiological society is pleased to acknowledge her effort in this regard,” said Alan Kaye, MD, the group’s president.

Slossberg has been a strong advocate for legislation that encourages women to have annual mammograms to detect any cancers early enough that they can be effectively treated. She has supported coverage of 3D “tomosynthesis,” an advanced test that has been found to be much more accurate than a traditional mammogram.

In 2016, the General Assembly passed legislation supported by Slossberg that requires insurance companies to cover the test. Medicare and Medicaid also pay for it. Legislation to improve and update the law was introduced in the 2017 session but not passed. It will be reintroduced next year.

“We need to do everything we can to bring life-saving tests to the public here in Connecticut. Breast cancer is an insidious disease and that’s why I strongly support increased use of the latest technology to detect it. Tomosynthesis is a good example of this,” Slossberg said.

Radiologists sometimes cannot tell what precisely is shown in a mammogram and they need the patient to come back into the office and have another test. Tomosynthesis has reduced these call-backs by 40 percent.

Slossberg toured Diagnostic Imaging of Milford on Oct. 30, where she was presented with the award by Dr. Paul Davis. She visited with staff and patients about mammography and other health care issues while there.

Slossberg is serving her seventh term as state Senator for the 14th district which is comprised of Milford, Orange, West Haven and Woodbridge.

Photo courtesy of the Kowalski Group