Leslie Ferris Yerger thought she was done with breast cancer worry. In October 2017, her mammogram and follow-up ultrasound came back clean: All clear. See you next year.
Then a routine DEXA scan ordered for bone health, not cancer, changed everything. The radiologist told her her bone density looked fine, but something else in the bones didn’t. What followed was a fast-moving chain of tests: X-ray, CT scan, multiple myeloma workups, and finally a bone biopsy.
The biopsy didn’t show bone cancer. It showed metastatic breast cancer, despite imaging that hadn’t flagged anything in the breast.
Episode Highlights
- How a baseline DEXA scan uncovered bone metastases when breast imaging looked normal
- What dense breast tissue actually is, and why it can hide cancer on a mammogram
- The “double whammy” of dense breasts: harder detection and higher risk
- What to look for in your mammogram report beyond “no evidence of cancer”
- The two-step reality of advocacy: getting the order and getting coverage
- Leslie’s mantra for patients: “insist and persist” and how to use it with your doctor and insurance
About the Guest
Leslie Ferris Yerger is a metastatic breast cancer patient and an advocate focused on breast density education and earlier detection. After her diagnosis in 2017—discovered through bone findings after “all clear” breast imaging—she turned her attention to the systemic gaps that leave many patients unaware of their breast density and their screening options.
She is the author of Probably Benign: BI-RADS 3, a book that weaves her personal story with a practical look at breast cancer screening and what patients are up against when results are unclear. She also supports the work of My Density Matters, helping women understand their mammogram reports, learn what additional screening may be appropriate, and push for the care they need.
Guest website: probablybenign.com
Pull Quote
“A mammogram can be like shining light through concrete in women with dense breasts.”
