Why Breast Density Matters

I assumed I used to be doing every little thing proper. I by no means missed my annual mammogram. I did self-exams, ate wholesome, and had no recognized threat components for breast most cancers. Yet, at some point I felt a lump. I wasn’t significantly nervous. I had not too long ago had a “normal” mammogram, which didn’t detect something. Then I used to be despatched for a diagnostic mammogram, which additionally didn’t detect something. But an ultrasound the identical day revealed the heartbreaking information: I had breast most cancers. Why didn’t it present on the mammograms? It was then that I used to be advised that I had extraordinarily dense breasts and the not-so-small, not-so-early-stage most cancers was hidden by the dense tissue. I had by no means earlier than been advised I had dense breasts, by no means been advised that breast density elevated my threat for breast most cancers, by no means been advised that breast density vastly reduces the effectiveness of a mammogram, and, sadly, by no means been advised that extra screening instruments have been accessible which could have detected my most cancers at an earlier stage.

Mammography is more practical in detecting cancers in some ladies than others. For ladies with dense breasts, most cancers usually grows unseen on mammography and due to this fact, extra screening could also be wanted.

Key Facts:

• Dense breast tissue is frequent: 40% of girls age 40 and over have dense breasts.
• Breast density is decided by way of a girl’s mammogram and described as one among 4 classes relying on the quantity of breast tissue compared to fats within the breast.
• Cancer is 4 occasions extra prone to develop in ladies with extraordinarily dense breasts than in ladies with fatty breasts.
• Though mammograms discover some cancers not seen on different screening assessments, in dense breasts, mammograms will miss as much as 40% of the cancers current.
• In dense breasts, different screening assessments, resembling ultrasound or particularly breast MRI, along with mammography, considerably enhance detection of early-stage breast cancers.

Why does breast density matter?

Dense breasts enhance each the chance of creating breast most cancers and the chance of that most cancers being missed by mammography.

Dense breast tissue exhibits up as white on a mammogram, whereas fatty tissue is darkish grey. Unfortunately, cancers additionally show as white on a mammogram. If there may be a variety of dense tissue on a mammogram, a most cancers may be “hiding” among the many dense tissue. This is true even when the mammogram was finished with 3D/tomosynthesis. Looking for a most cancers in a dense breast has been in comparison with on the lookout for a snowball in a blizzard.

In dense breasts, a “normal,” “negative,” or “benign” mammogram doesn’t essentially imply most cancers shouldn’t be current. No matter how latest your final mammogram, a lump or any adjustments in your breast needs to be delivered to the eye of your well being care supplier.

In addition to hiding most cancers, breast density can be one among many recognized threat components for breast most cancers. The better the density of the breast tissue, the upper the chance for creating breast most cancers.

How is breast density decided?

When you could have your mammogram, your breast density is rated as one among 4 classes:

• Category A – Fatty                                                                                                                       
• Category B – Scattered areas of fibroglandular density
• Category C – Heterogeneously dense
• Category D – Extremely dense

Breasts that are Category C – Heterogeneously dense, or Category D – Extremely dense, are thought of to be “dense” breasts.

How do I do know if I’ve dense breasts?

Generally, this info will likely be supplied to you by your well being care supplier, who may have acquired it from the power that carried out your mammogram. It may be included within the letter you obtain after your mammogram is carried out. Many states (38 and the District of Columbia), now have legal guidelines that require some degree of details about breast density be included within the letter ladies obtain after their mammogram. However, the legal guidelines range from state-to-state. To be taught the reporting necessities in your state, please see the legislative map on DenseBreast-info.org.

Early detection issues, so be an knowledgeable self-advocate. All ladies ought to know their breast density and particular person threat components, focus on the advantages and dangers of extra screening with their well being care skilled, and pursue extra screening if applicable for them, to make sure the earliest stage analysis doable.

©DenseBreast-info.org

Additional assets

Patient Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts

About the writer:

JoAnn Pushkin is government director of DenseBreast-info.org. The web site, cited because the “most up-to-date and comprehensive resource” on the subject, is the collaborative effort of world-renowned breast imaging specialists and medical reviewers.

Pushkin’s initiative and advocacy served as inspiration for New York State’s Breast Density Inform legislation. On the federal degree, she continues to guide efforts for a single nationwide “density” reporting commonplace by way of each the introduction of the Federal Breast Density and Mammography Reporting Act, in addition to the FDA’s Mammography Quality Standards Act regulatory modification consideration.