Should you worry about dense breast tissue?

Breasts come in numerous shapes, sizes and densities.

In some circumstances, dense breast tissue could be related to an elevated danger of breast most cancers.

Research have proven that 4 in 10 circumstances of breast cancer in youthful ladies may very well be attributed to excessive breast density. This implies breast density may very well be extra vital than an individual’s household historical past when figuring out breast cancer risk factors. However having dense breasts is just not an irregular situation. In america, 43% of girls over age 40 have dense breast tissue.

What causes dense breast tissue?

It’s a bodily attribute of the physique, and there’s little a girl can do to actively change or enhance the density of her breast.

Are annual breast screenings vital?

Allison Gleason, an OSF HealthCare supervisor of mammography and ultrasound, mentioned it’s vital to do not forget that the density of a girl’s breasts can change over time.

“That’s why it’s important to get annual mammogram screenings and keep updated on the situation of your breasts,” Allison mentioned. “Keep in mind to proceed getting routine screening mammograms even when extra exams are instructed for you.”

Are dense breasts firmer?

Breast tissue consists of fatty cells, fibrous connective tissue and milk glands. Dense breast tissue means you’ve gotten the next share of fibrous and glandular tissue inside your breasts. Your breasts are categorized as “dense” tissue in the event that they include greater than half of fibroglandular tissue fairly than fatty breast tissue.

Can dense breast tissue flip into most cancers?

No. Dense breast tissue is just not a reason behind growing breast most cancers.

Dense breast tissue could obscure or disguise breast cancers on a mammogram – probably delaying prognosis in these ladies. This is because of the truth that dense tissue absorbs extra radiation throughout mammography, lowering the accuracy of the check and making it tougher to diagnose breast most cancers correctly.

Each dense breast tissue and most cancers seem white on a mammogram. This creates a harmful camouflage impact and a problem for radiologists who intention to search out breast most cancers as early as potential.

In response to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted diagnostic mammogram will determine 88% of cancers in a breast that’s virtually fully fatty tissue or low in density. That’s in comparison with 62% in high-density breasts.

How will when you have dense breasts?

“It’s the regulation in Illinois and Michigan to inform mammography sufferers if they’ve dense breast tissue,” Allison mentioned. Being notified that you’ve got dense breast tissue is a typical and regular discovering.”

What forms of imaging are finest for dense breasts?

As soon as a girl is recognized as having dense breasts, the most effective imaging method for an annual screening mammogram is a 3D mammogram, often known as tomosynthesis.

3D mammography will increase the possibility of detecting irregular cells in overlapping components of the breasts. The low-dose 3D mammogram examination takes simply 3.7 seconds per view leading to larger affected person consolation, a decrease quantity of radiation and a decreased probability of affected person movement.

As soon as having a dense breast tissue mammogram, the radiologist could suggest both a breast ultrasound or ABUS (Automated Breast Ultrasound). “ABUS makes use of sound waves to scale back false constructive outcomes and assist us meet the well being wants of girls higher,” Allison mentioned.

The benefits of ABUS embrace:

• Detecting breast most cancers in ladies with extraordinarily dense breast tissue
• Demonstrating a 36% enchancment in detecting breast most cancers in ladies with dense breast tissue that has not had a previous challenge
• Permitting radiologists to look by way of lots of of picture slices to find out and find breast most cancers {that a} common mammogram could not have detected

“You probably have been recognized as having a dense breast tissue most cancers danger, you must perceive your choices. Make it possible for the absolute best imaging research are carried out for confidence in your imaging outcomes.” Allison mentioned.

What do you have to do when you have dense breast tissue?

You probably have dense breast tissue, talk with your doctor about your breast tissue density and household historical past of breast most cancers to find out the most effective imaging choices. You also needs to test together with your insurance coverage supplier for 3D (tomosynthesis) and ABUS protection.

Final Up to date: February 17, 2023