The meaning of breast density
With the letter giving me my mammography report, I also got a letter telling me I have dense breasts. What does that mean?
Q: With the letter giving me my mammography report, I also got a letter telling me I have dense breasts. What does that mean?
A: Laws in Pennsylvania and New Jersey enacted in 2014 require you to be informed of your breast density as it appears on your mammogram. This is not the same as your breasts feeling firm or lumpy. Breasts contain fat, which appears gray or black on the mammogram, and fibroglandular tissue, which is normal and appears white on the mammogram. But cancers may also appear white on the mammogram. If your breasts contain less than half fibroglandular tissue, they are considered fatty (or not dense). If your breasts contain more than half fibroglandular tissue, they are dense.
Cancer could be hidden in dense breast tissue. Additionally, some women with dense breasts have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. In some women, additional testing that might include ultrasound examinations and MRIs could be recommended. Whether additional testing is necessary depends on many factors, including your personal health history and your family history.
If you receive a letter telling you you have dense breasts, you should speak to your care provider about whether additional testing is recommended. In many cases, the center where you had your mammogram will have someone on staff who can help you understand the choices available for further testing.
It is important to remember that most women with dense breasts do not have breast cancer.
- Dr. Kathryn Evers, director of breast imaging at Fox Chase Cancer Center
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