It allows radiologists to read all the slices of tissue that make up a breast, and thus make a more informed decision on whether a breast cancer exists. Learn about symptoms and treatment. In some cases, having dense breasts links to an increased breast cancer risk. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. Estimates vary, but a 2011 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women with breasts composed of 50% or more dense tissue were three times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 15-year period than women who had less than 10% dense tissue in their breasts. According to the BI-RADS reporting system, the levels are (from left to right) A: almost entirely fatty, B: scattered areas of fibroglandular density, C: heterogeneously dense, and D: extremely dense. A false-positive result occurs when a screening test identifies something in the breast that may be cancer, but which upon further investigation (which may involve a breast biopsy) turns out to be non-cancerous. areas of dense glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue (called. However, doctors and researchers still do not understand why. Some images were created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not demonstrate proper pandemic protocols. But if you have dense breast tissue, you should speak with your provider about cancer screening options. Breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are not more likely to die from breast cancer than patients with non-dense (fatty) breasts. WebHaving dense breasts is common and its not abnormal. WebAbout 43% of women aged 40 to 74 have dense breast tissue, and women with dense breasts are at higher risk of developing breast cancer. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Breast tissue is composed of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue (dense breast tissue), and fatty tissue (nondense breast tissue). It is classified on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being the least dense and 4 being the most. Scientists dont know for sure why this is true. Mayo Clinic Press 200 First Street, SW Rochester, MN 55905, USA. This risk is separate from the effect of dense breasts on the ability to read a mammogram. Just how effective are antidepressants, anyway? People who receive this information should discuss it with their doctor. According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 43.3% of women ages 4074 years have dense breasts. The most common type of mammogram digital mammogram saves images of your breasts as digital files instead of film and allows for more detailed analysis. Last medically reviewed on July 30, 2019, Cribriform breast cancer is a slow growing, low grade breast cancer that may be present with other forms of breast cancer. WebIt's not clear why some women have a lot of dense breast tissue and others do not. When doctors look at these images, they can distinguish between different tissues based on their appearance in the image. They recommend that people have the option to start annual screening at 40 years of age but should start by 45 years. Whats your most important health concern? Women who score a 3 or a 4 are typically said to have high density. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. D This means that nearly all the breast tissue is dense. What to know about papillary breast cancer. Again, there's no proof that doing so will help prevent sagging. WebDense breasts can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. In the study, which was published online February 28 by JAMA Oncology, researchers compared more than 50,000 breast screenings performed with DBT and 129,369 performed with digital mammography. Breast cancer radiation: Can it cause dry skin? WebIf your overall risk for breast cancer is high, you may want to consider chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which can reduce breast density. You can review and change the way we collect information below. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. WebAbout half of all women who have screening mammography are found to have dense breast tissue. However, extremely dense breast tissue will also appear as white on the X-ray. Also, while wearing a bra to bed is totally fine for comfort, don't expect that nighttime support to keep your girls in perfect shape. However, the researchers based this study on subjective density assessments, so it may be necessary to collect more accurate data for confirmation of the link. Having dense breasts also makes it harder to see signs of cancer on a There are four categories used to describe breast density: MHT is also called postmenopausal hormone use and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Kelly Bilodeau, The Medical Clinics of North America. Why do some women with dense breasts develop breast cancer, whereas others do not? 10 Best Kegel Balls to Strengthen Your Pelvic Floo. Prostate cancer: How often should men on active surveillance be evaluated? Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Until this study, research had suggested that breast density was equally associated with ER-negative and ER-positive tumors. Many factors can cause dense breast tissue, including Can you have polycystic ovarian syndrome Without ovarian cysts? It's a normal and common finding. If your overall risk for breast cancer is high, you may want to consider chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which can reduce breast density. NCI's Division of Cancer Prevention supports research on cancer screening and risk factors, including breast density, such as this clinical trial for women with dense breasts. What biologic mechanisms explain the association between high breast density and increased breast cancer risk? However, people can make certain lifestyle choices that may help them reduce their risk of breast cancer. "Breasts increase in size with pregnancy and stay enlarged with breastfeeding, but they then slowly shrink back down once a woman is done nursing," she says. Speak with your healthcare provider about your breast density after your mammogram. Are you at risk for heart disease? As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. You may be more likely to have dense breasts if you: Having dense breasts affects you in two ways: Most medical organizations recommend women with an average risk of breast cancer consider regular mammogram testing beginning at age 40 and consider repeating the screening annually. The only way to tell if you have high breast density is by having a mammogram. Because its hard to tell the difference between a tumor and dense breast tissue on a mammogram, a small tumor may be missed. Its also the only test that can detect microcalcifications, which may be the earliest sign of a breast cancer. Women in the second two categories are said to have high-density or dense breasts. 3D mammogram (breast tomosynthesis). Her articles have appeared in Prevention, Glamour, Self, iVillage.com, The Huffington Post, Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Parenting, Parents, Martha Stewart Weddings and other titles. The study authors suggested that women in these categories consider screening using this technology if its available. The levels of density are recorded in the mammogram report using letters: A This means that the breasts are almost entirely composed of fat. Mammograms have been shown to decrease the mortality associated with breast cancer. But additional tests carry additional risks, and no additional testing method is proved to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer. Its important to note that if women with dense breasts are diagnosed with breast cancer, they are not at higher risk of dying from breast cancer, compared to women without dense breasts. Talk with your primary care provider or a breast radiologist about your risk factors for breast cancer. The breasts are evenly dense throughout (about 40% of women). 2017;101:725. Review your breast cancer risk factors with your doctor and consider your options for additional breast cancer screening tests. Dr. Temeika Fairley explains in this video. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. In the case of permitted digital reproduction, please credit the National Cancer Institute as the source and link to the original NCI product using the original product's title; e.g., Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions was originally published by the National Cancer Institute.. WebLike Joan, many women dont know whether they have dense breasts or what that means. MNT is the registered trade mark of Healthline Media. Some people have more fibrous than fatty tissue in their breasts. However, it increases the chance that breast cancer will not be found on a mammogram. No. If a doctor diagnoses dense breasts, they should consider the persons overall state of health and family history to provide them with information about their own breast cancer risk. However, those of average risk can choose to start annual screenings from 40 years of age onward. Breast density often As a result, mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breaststhat is, it is more likely to miss cancer. Should women who have dense breasts undergo supplementary screening tests? About 4 in 10 women have this result. People should work with their doctor to plan a screening schedule, if needed, or to arrange additional imaging scans. Breast density often changes over time. To investigate, researchers at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston compared breast density in 1,042 postmenopausal women who had breast cancer and 1,794 age-matched women who did not have breast cancer. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Doctors classify breast density based on whats called the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, or BI-RADS. Learn about symptoms and treatment. Chances are, youll find an article discussing it in a recent issue of Harvard Womens Health Watch. About 1 in 8 women and people AFAB will develop cancer in their lifetime. Breasts contain glandular tissue, fibrous connective tissue, and fatty breast tissue. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. Talk with your doctor about how often you should be screened for breast cancer and which tests your doctor recommends. Get direct access to the knowledge, wisdom, advice and practical information on healthy aging from Mayo Clinic, one of the worlds foremost health authorities. Ask these questions to get information thats specific to you, based on your personal medical history: Yes, there are ongoing and completed clinical trials related to dense breasts that are studying better ways to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts. Infographic: Breast Reconstruction Options. Have a lower body mass index Women who have less body fat are more likely to have denser breast tissue compared to women who have more body fat. In the June issue of Harvard Womens Health Watch, we highlighted a recent study that showed that digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), sometimes referred to as 3D mammography, might be better at detecting cancers in younger women and those with dense breast tissue. Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Besides talking to your provider about additional imaging, you can: If you have dense breasts, it means a radiologist may have a harder time detecting cancer on your mammogram. Medications that contain hormones. Why dont certain ones work for me? Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Breast Density and Your Mammogram Report. Research has shown that extremely dense breast tissue puts you at four times the risk for breast cancer compared to fatty tissue. The bad news: If you lose a significant amount of weight, your skin is likely to sag in most places, including your breasts. What factors are associated with dense breasts? Since breast cancer is far more prevalent in women than men, it's important for men to know the symptoms in order to get diagnosed at an early stage. Breasts are regarded as dense if they have less fat and more connective and glandular tissue. Our syndication services page shows you how. You might just have more dense tissue than someone else. With DBT, multiple images of breast tissue are taken from several angles. DBT is a relatively new technology, approved by the FDA in 2011. Dense tissue can hide cancers. Other risk factors, including your family history and sometimes genetic predisposition, can help determine if you qualify for supplemental breast MRI in addition to a yearly mammogram. Some womens breasts are denser than others. The finding of dense breasts on a mammogram can be stressful and confusing for patients, says Dr. Toni Golen, acting editor in chief of Harvard Womens Health Watch. In other words, if you have a high breast densitymeaning there's more breast tissue compared to fatyour breasts will be less likely to droop than if you have a low breast density, with more fat than breast tissue. Subscribe now for answers to questions like these! Dense throughout ( about 40 % of women ) can review and change the way we collect below. Healthcare provider about cancer screening options, with 1 being the most and least popular and how..., multiple images of breast cancer is high, you may want to consider chemoprevention tamoxifen. 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