WHAT ARE DENSE BREASTS?
Dense breast tissue is comprised of less fat and more fibrous and connective tissue. It appears white on a mammogram – as does cancer. A radiologist determines breast density during a mammogram so only a mammogram can show if a woman has dense breasts!
WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE DENSE BREASTS?
• Conduct monthly breast self-exams.
• Schedule a mammogram and thorough physician exam yearly.
• Obtain a copy of your mammogram report and carefully read the descriptions of your breast density tissue.
• Ask your doctor about additional screening options (ultrasound, breast MRI, etc.).
THE TRUTH ABOUT DENSE BREASTS
• 40-50% of all women have dense breast
tissue.
• Women with high breast density are 4-5 times more likely to get breast cancer.
• A mammogram misses the presence of cancer in patients with dense breasts 1 out of every 2 times.
• Dense breast tissue CANNOT be felt in a clinical breast exam or self-exam.
• According to the National Cancer Institute, women with dense breasts are more likely to have false-negative mammograms than women who do not.
• Recent research studies have linked dense breasts
to an increased risk of having breast cancer in both breasts.
• In a survey conducted by the Working Mother Research Institute (WMRI), over 7 out of 10 respondents are now aware of the link between breast cancer and having dense breast tissue.
For the most comprehensive website on the topic, please visit: DenseBreast-info, Inc. | Dense Breast Tissue Information Resource
