Nancy Cappello

American breast cancer awareness advocate

Nancy Cappello

Nancy M. Cappello (March 9, 1952 – November 15, 2018) was an American breast cancer awareness advocate known for her work in promoting breast density education and legislation. Her advocacy led to the enactment of laws in numerous states requiring that women be informed about their breast density following a mammogram.

Early life and education

Nancy Cappello was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. She pursued her education in the field of education, earning a bachelor's degree from Central Connecticut State University and a master's degree from Southern Connecticut State University. She later obtained a doctorate in education from the University of Hartford.

Career

Cappello worked as an educator and administrator in the Connecticut public school system for over 30 years. Her career in education was marked by her dedication to improving educational outcomes for students and her leadership in various educational initiatives.

Breast cancer diagnosis

In 2004, Cappello was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram failed to detect the disease. Her cancer was discovered only after a subsequent ultrasound, which revealed a large tumor that had been obscured by her dense breast tissue. This experience highlighted the limitations of mammography for women with dense breasts and motivated her to become an advocate for breast density awareness.

Advocacy and legislation

Following her diagnosis, Cappello founded the organization "Are You Dense, Inc." to raise awareness about the risks associated with dense breast tissue and the importance of additional screening methods. Her advocacy efforts were instrumental in the passage of the first breast density notification law in Connecticut in 2009. This law required that women be informed if they have dense breast tissue, which can make it more difficult to detect cancer on a mammogram.

Cappello's work inspired similar legislation across the United States, and by 2018, more than 30 states had enacted breast density notification laws. Her efforts also contributed to the passage of the federal "Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act," which was signed into law in 2019, mandating that all mammography reports include information about breast density.

Legacy

Nancy Cappello's advocacy has had a lasting impact on breast cancer screening practices and has increased awareness about the importance of breast density in cancer detection. Her work has empowered women to seek additional screening and has improved early detection rates for breast cancer.

Death

Cappello passed away on November 15, 2018, due to complications from breast cancer. Her legacy continues through the ongoing work of "Are You Dense, Inc." and the many lives her advocacy has touched.

Related pages

• Breast cancer
• Mammography
• Breast density
• Breast cancer screening