![]() In response to these findings, breast cancer advocates’ efforts have led 34 states to pass laws requiring doctors to provide women with information about their breast density along with their mammography results. Women with extremely dense breast tissue (category D) have about twice the risk. It now appears that women with heterogeneously dense breast tissue (category C) have about a 1.2 times greater risk of developing breast cancer than women with average breast density. Then, in 2007, researchers reported findings that suggested breast density not only made it harder to find cancers, but was also was as an independent predictor of breast cancer risk. Women with denser breasts have a greater risk of developing breast cancer Dense breast tissue and a tumor will both appear white on a mammogram, making efforts to find a tumor akin to looking for a polar bear in the snow. For decades, doctors have known it is much more difficult to find a cancer in women who have dense breasts. About 40% of these women have heterogeneously dense breast tissue (category C) and about 10% have extremely dense breast tissue (category D). Studies suggest close to half of all women between age 40 and 74 have dense breasts tissue. D: Extremely dense, which lowers mammography sensitivity.C: Heterogeneously dense, which may obscure masses.B: Scattered areas of fibroglandular density.Breast density can only be determined by mammography, with the radiologist evaluating the density seen on the X-ray according to four categories determined by the BI-RADS system. Breast density can only be determined by mammography, with the radiologist evaluating the densityĪ doctor cannot tell by looking at a woman’s breasts how dense they are. However, there are some women whose breasts remain fibrous and dense, even after menopause. Over time this changes, and, as a woman ages, her breasts typically become more fatty. Virtually all women start out with very dense breast tissue. Breasts that are not dense contain almost all fatty tissue and very little fibrous tissue. Breasts that are dense or very dense have a lot of fibrous, connective tissue and less fatty tissue. The breast contains ducts, glands, fibrous connective tissue, and fatty tissue. ![]()
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