Breast Density: Five Things You Should Know

Breasts are composed of a variety of tissues, but the tissue doctors refer to as dense is very common. In fact, about half of women who are age 40 and older have dense breast tissue.

Dense breast tissue isn’t a disease, but it is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, one that will increase your risk of breast cancer.

Facts About Dense Breast Tissue

1. All breasts are composed of fatty tissue, milk ducts and dense tissue. Women who are younger and thinner tend to have more dense tissue in their breasts.
2. Dense breast tissue is not noticeable to touch. It is only visible in mammograms and can “hide” tumors due to the similarity in appearance in these scans. Physicians prefer 3D mammography because it often provides a clearer image of the breast and can help physicians detect cancer in dense tissue.
3. Dense tissue can make it harder to find a tumor, but the American College of Radiology does not recommend additional testing for women who have dense breasts if they are in the population considered average risk. Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography, or CESM, can help physicians and patients who need additional imaging. CESM is safe, quick and less expensive than an MRI. Ultrasounds are reserved for focal symptoms or mammographic abnormalities.
4. Dense tissue typically decreases as women age, gain weight or reach menopause. While it would seem this change is good, each of these changes brings with it a potential risk increase for breast cancer. Remember, dense tissue isn’t a disease, but it can make detection more difficult.
5. Hormonal changes due to hormone therapies can lead to an increase in dense tissue in the breast. Don’t forget women who are considered in the population that has average risk only need mammograms on a regular basis.

What if You Have Dense Breasts?

Ask your physician or advanced practice provider any questions you might have about dense breast tissue. Your personal risk for breast cancer may affect your provider’s plan of action because dense breasts are just one of several risk factors. Others include:

• Family history
• Age
• Tobacco/alcohol use
• Reproductive history
• Obesity

Dense breasts may put you at risk for a false positive, or finding an abnormality in your mammogram that is determined not to be cancer. Your provider may suggest other screening methods. You could also be a candidate for the Avera High-Risk Breast Cancer Prevention Clinic.