Salmeron's books were on display.

We all know that breast cancer awareness month takes place in October, but not everyone may have as much awareness about dense breast tissue. Author, activist and breast cancer survivor Henda Salmeron came to Christus Trinity Mother Frances Wednesday evening to talk about just that.

She recounted her story about her breast cancer to those in attendance. Years earlier, she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after doctors found a tumor the size of a golf ball. What doctors hadn’t told her before was that she had dense breast tissue, which had made the tumor difficult to find in other mammograms.

Upon learning that it was not required for doctors to notify their patients about dense breast tissue, which can sometimes prevent early detection such as in Salmeron’s case, she decided do to something about it. “If I was going to die, I was going to die fighting and change the standard of care,” she said.

Her personal journey and lobbying led to “Henda’s Law” and changed the standard of breast care for Texas women in 2011. Now, all mammogram providers are required to notify women about dense breast tissue and the increased risks associated. Since then, 36 states have passed similar legislation, but Salmeron’s goal is to get all states behind this effort.

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