Breast density is also partly a heritable trait. However, other studies have shown that the link between breast density and breast cancer risk, in general, is strong independent of this masking effect. (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/breast-density-and-your-mammogram-report.html), (https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/dense-breasts.htm), (http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-anatomy). The levels of density are recorded in the mammogram report using letters: A This means that the breasts are almost entirely composed of fat. Denser breasts can make cancerous lesions more difficult for doctors to identify. Women in the second two categories are said to have high-density or dense breasts. Is the ketogenic diet right for autoimmune conditions? 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Yes, breast implants can sag after pregnancy. Should women with high density be screened at a younger age, more often, or using different technology? In this article, we explain how dense breast tissue can interfere with breast cancer diagnosis and how to reduce the risk of breast cancer. A breast MRI is another imaging option. Does dense breast tissue cause any other health problems? The more white areas the radiologist sees on the image, the denser your breast. Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Together you can decide whether additional screening tests are right for you. About half of women who have mammograms have dense breasts. Dr. Jones: Right. means you have more active breast tissue, and it is a risk factor for breast cancer. It does not refer to how the breast tissue feels on exam. Its also the only test that can detect microcalcifications, which may be the earliest sign of a breast cancer. It is also possible that a doctor might diagnose a particularly dense area of tissue as a tumor, then find in later scans that it is an area with increased density. Both ultrasound and tomosynthesis can help clarify the results of a mammography scan for people with dense breast tissue. We take your privacy seriously. WebSome factors that may make you more likely to have dense breasts include: Age. However, dense breasts are a risk factor for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society advise differently. The value of additional, or supplemental, imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI to screen for breast cancer in women with dense breasts is not yet clear, according to the Recommendation Statement on Breast Cancer Screening by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). They may feel like a soft rubber ball with well-defined margins. 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. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. It is common in younger women and is also found in older women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) . Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of getting breast cancer. They may benefit from annual breast cancer screening. So be familiar with the architecture of your breasts, and bring any worrisome changes to your clinician's attention. Get your hearing checked today. Her articles have appeared in Prevention, Glamour, Self, iVillage.com, The Huffington Post, Fitness, Cosmopolitan, Parenting, Parents, Martha Stewart Weddings and other titles. How should women with dense breasts be screened for breast cancer? There are no methods available for preventing the development of dense breast tissue. "It is true that in general small breasts do sag a bit less than larger ones because there's less tissue pulling down," If your overall risk for breast cancer is high, you may want to consider chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which can reduce breast density. BONUS! Mayo Clinic Press 200 First Street, SW Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Density is typically gauged by the radiologist who reads the mammograms. With less elasticity, the breasts lose http://www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Resources/BIRADS/Mammography. 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. 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. "If a woman gains a lot of weight, her breasts will stretch out just as the rest of her skin will," says Minkin. Factors associated with lower breast density include increasing age and having children. Always maintaining a healthy weight will likely help.". Childbirth (particularly first child) after age 30. That is, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with fatty breasts. Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School. False-positive results can cause substantial stress and anxiety. Women in the first two categories are said to have low-density, non-dense, or fatty breasts. Having dense breast tissue will not affect your daily life. 2016;164:ITC81. While each test is proved to find more breast cancers than a mammogram, none of these newer imaging tests is proved to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer, as has been done with the standard film mammogram. Bodyweight. Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! The only way to decrease the density of your breast tissue is to take preventive tamoxifen, a medication reserved for people at increased risk for breast cancer. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195 |, Important Updates + Notice of Vendor Data Event. Still, some women continue to have dense breast tissue well into their later years. But additional tests carry additional risks, and no additional testing method is proved to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer. About 1 in 10 women has this result. The breasts are extremely dense (about 10% of women). Levels of density are described using a results reporting system called Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). Breast cancer screening and options for supplemental screening in the dense breast (adult). "Some sports bras are like body armorthey hold the breasts so well there is no movement at all." On a mammogram, fatty tissue appears dark and transparent. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. In some cases, having dense breasts links to an increased breast cancer risk. COVID-19 vaccine: Should I reschedule my mammogram? These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. Doctors who review mammograms are called radiologists. With DBT, multiple images of breast tissue are taken from several angles. Research has shown that extremely dense breast tissue puts you at four times the risk for breast cancer compared to fatty tissue. Not valid on previous purchases or when combined with any other promotional offers. American College of Radiology. First, a couple of truths: We'd all love to have perky breasts our whole lives, but sagging is just a part of life. If you have additional risk factors for breast cancer, your doctor may recommend changes to your breast cancer screening regimen. Your breast exam was normal, great. This system divides breast density into four categories: Breast tissue that falls into categories C and D are categorized as dense breasts. Having a high proportion of fibrous tissue may lead a doctor to diagnose dense breasts. But Judy Blume didn't have it all wrong: Doing exercises for the chest muscles, specifically the pectoralis major muscle located directly underneath the breasts, can help elevate the breasts and give them a perkier appearance, says Deborah Axelrod, MD, medical director of clinical breast services and breast programs of New York University Langone Medical Center. Dr. Jones: Oh, good. 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. This includes people with a family history of breast cancer and those with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to it. Whats your most important health concern? But if you have dense breast tissue, you should speak with your provider about cancer screening options. Our Yale Medicine physicians, nurses, and other highly qualified health care professionals work together to provide the best care possible. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. The density of your breasts can change over time. Why do some women with dense breasts develop breast cancer, whereas others do not? Knowing whether you have dense breasts is important because women with dense As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. You and your clinician should know your risk profile and plan screenings and office visits accordingly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. What to know about fungating breast tumors. The radiologist reading your mammogram is required to describe your degree of density. 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. Very dense breasts may increase the risk that cancer won't be detected on a mammogram. With conventional mammography, while we can be as accurate as 98% in a fatty breast, our sensitivity can drop to as low as 30% in women with extremely dense breasts, which is why supplementary screening with ultrasound or MRIdepending on the patients personal risk factorscan be such an important aid in finding breast cancer, says Melissa Durand, MD, an Associate Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at Yale Cancer Center. Fungating or ulcerating breast tumors cause lesions on or around the breast, which can be painful and itchy. This similarity in appearance can make it more difficult to identify potentially cancerous lesions. For younger women with dense breasts, the advantage of DBT was even greater: 2.27 more cancers were found for every 1,000 women screened. Also, you may have to pay for these tests. Discuss both your breast density and your risk factors for breast cancer with your healthcare provider when deciding when to start and how often to get regular mammograms. Dense breast tissue is commonly found during regular mammograms. Breast density is determined through a womans mammogram. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Inflammatory breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer that can progress over several weeks or months. While sagging is inevitable for many women, you can take steps to at least minimize it. Women whose breasts appear dense on mammograms have a higher risk for some aggressive breast cancers. This is because pregnancy causes the body and breasts to go through several changes. You cant tell if you have dense breasts based on how your breasts look or their firmnessor your body type, weight, or the size and feel of your breasts. Nearly half of all women who are 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts. 3D mammogram (breast tomosynthesis). One of the strongest known risk factors for breast cancer is high breast density that is, relatively little fat in the breast and more connective and glandular tissue, as seen on a mammogram. My liver enzymes are elevated Now what? "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Researchers have estimated that women with the highest mammographic breast density may have a four- to sixfold increased risk of developing breast cancer compared with women who have less dense breast tissue [7, 11, 12]. Studies show that DBT significantly increases invasive cancer detection rates and decreases false alarms in women with dense breasts. 5 Myths About Breast Sagging That Need To Go Away, 6 Staph Infection Signs You Should Never Ignore, 9 Things Your Vagina Is Trying To Tell You, 25 sports bras that will change your life, The Unbelievable Reason You're Short On Vitamin D, 10 Things Your Breasts Say About Your Health, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. Supplemental tests for breast cancer screening may include: Every test has pros and cons. Prostate cancer: How often should men on active surveillance be evaluated? MHT is also called postmenopausal hormone use and hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The breasts are almost entirely fatty (about 10% of women). Your provider may recommend or offer supplemental imaging. Throckmorton AD, et al. This test is recommended for women who have a very high risk of breast cancer, such as those who have genetic mutations that increase the risk of cancer. Just how effective are antidepressants, anyway? Breasts don't contain muscle, so there aren't any exercises you can do to specifically target them. Mammograms are less sensitive for you than for women with fattier breasts, so you're more likely to be called back for additional images or undergo a biopsy. Breast cancer radiation: Can it cause dry skin? Research has found that breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are no more likely to die from breast cancer than breast cancer patients who have fatty breasts, after accounting for other health factors and tumor characteristics. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends women get a mammogram every 12 years, starting at age 40, in order to detect possible breast cancer. You have a mix of dense and fatty tissue, but the majority is fatty. Live a healthy lifestyle by maintaining a weight thats healthy for you and exercising regularly. Does having dense breast tissue affect a mammogram? Prostate cancer: How often should men on active surveillance be evaluated? They recommend yearly scans from 40 years of age. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Breasts that contain a higher proportion of glandular and connective tissues relative to fatty tissue are said to be dense. Breast calcifications: Should I worry about them. Together you can decide whether additional screening tests are right for you. Infections in the breast can cause redness and swelling. Are there certain patterns or areas of dense breast tissue that are particularly risky? The science of sunburns: Why they happen and how to treat them, Alcohol is not your breasts friend: Busting myths about drinking and breast cancer, Learn more about Mayo Clinic's use of data. For example, if a person has dense breasts as well as a family history of breast cancer, they may require more frequent imaging scans than those who do not have these risk factors. Are younger Breast tissue tends to become less dense as you age, though some women may have dense breast tissue at any age. A few areas of dense tissue are scattered through the breasts (about 40% of women). What are the dense breast-related findings in my recent mammogram? 4. 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. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Breast cancer patients who have dense breasts are not more likely to die from breast cancer than patients with non-dense (fatty) breasts. Dense breasts dont feel or look any different from breasts that have a larger proportion of fatty tissue. According to a study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, an estimated 43.3% of women ages 4074 years have dense breasts. A woman in the highest breast density category (10% of all women) is four to six times more likely to develop breast cancer than women in the Women with dense breasts have a higher risk of getting breast cancer. False positive test results often lead to unnecessary tests, like a biopsy. Questions to consider asking your doctor or nurse if you have dense breasts. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later went on to become a managing editor at HCPro, a Boston-area healthcare publishing company,, ducts, tubes that carry milk to the nipple, fatty tissue, similar to fat in other parts of your body. Forty percent of women in the U.S. age 40 and over who have been screened for breast cancer have dense breasts. Now what? WebA woman's breasts are considered dense if they have less fat and more glandular and fibrous tissue than average. For instance, while MRIs and ultrasounds can identify cancers that mammography misses, they can also mistake noncancerous cells for cancerous ones (a false positive). Here, the top misconceptions about what makes the girls hang low:Myth #1: Breastfeeding can cause sagging. Women with 50% or higher breast density on a mammogram were three times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 15-year period than women with less than 10% breast density. Some images were created prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not demonstrate proper pandemic protocols. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. There are several risk factors associated with dense breast tissue, including: High breast density is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. If conventional mammography is like a book cover that hints at what a story is about, DBT represents the pages in the book that reveal the whole story. Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. WebBreast density varies greatly by age and weight, though. Dense breast tissue refers to the amount of fibroglandular and fibrous connective tissue thats present within your breast as compared to fatty tissue. Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. Its information that may concern them, but they dont know what to do about it. Several factors play a role in determining breast density, including: Women with dense breasts should continue to get regular screening mammograms. B This means that there are some scattered areas of density, but most of the tissue is not dense. Having dense breasts is an independent risk factor for developing breast cancer, Dr. Musser explains. Home / Women's Health / What does it mean if I have dense breasts? More than 20 states have now passed laws requiring radiologists to inform people of a diagnosis of dense breasts, so that they can be aware of their increased cancer risk. 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. Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. When doctors look at these images, they can distinguish between different tissues based on their appearance in the image. The radiologist who analyzes your mammogram determines the ratio of non-dense tissue to dense tissue and assigns a level of breast density. Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: What to know. If youve had a breast cancer screening mammogram, your mammogram report told you about any abnormal findingsmasses, calcifications, or other atypical structurein your breast tissue. Consider different screening technology. Having dense breasts is something to discuss with your healthcare provider. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. at the National Institutes of Health, An official website of the United States government, Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions, United States map showing information about specific state legislation, Recommendation Statement on Breast Cancer Screening, United States Preventive Services Task Force, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, risk factors for cancer, including breast cancer, clinical trial for women with dense breasts, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network, Exploring the Relationship Between Mammographic Breast Density and Breast Cancer, Many Women with Dense Breasts May Not Need Additional Screening, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Factors associated with higher breast density include using. Want to use this content on your website or other digital platform? As expected, the risk of breast cancer was higher for women with higher breast densities. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Firmer breasts dont mean you have dense breasts. Levels of density are described using a reporting system created by the American College of Radiology called Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS). What is the vampire breast lift? You can also contact NCIs Cancer Information Service to get tailored clinical trial searches related to breast density and breast cancer screening. You may be more likely to have dense breasts if you: Every test has pros and cons. Their analysis found that DBT identified 1.7 more cancers than digital mammography for every 1,000 exams of women with normal breast tissue. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Parents don't always realize that their teen is suicidal. PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. Want to reduce your risk of dementia? The four breast density categories are shown in this image. Breasts can be almost entirely fatty (A), have scattered areas of dense fibroglandular breast tissue (B), have many areas of glandular and connective tissue (C), or be extremely dense (D). In contrast to breast cancer tumors, benign lumps are often squishy. Your radiologist may also want to obtain more images using a different method. The four categories are: If your breast tissue is mostly fatty (A) or scattered fibroglandular (B): You have low breast density, and cancer is more likely to be visible on a mammogram. Subscribe now for answers to questions like these! Your provider may recommend additional breast cancer screenings to get a better look at your breast tissue. Breasts are regarded as dense if they have less fat and more connective and glandular tissue. 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. Don't miss your FREE gift. Due to its cost and the higher likelihood of receiving a false-positive result, doctors will mainly suggest MRI scans for those who have a higher-than-average lifetime risk of breast cancer. Check out our super-effective workout DVD. What biologic mechanisms explain the association between high breast density and increased breast cancer risk? About 40% of these women have heterogeneously dense breast tissue and about The dense glandular tissue will look white, and fatty tissue will look dark on your mammogram. 2004-2023 Healthline Media UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures Company. Both dense breast tissue and potential cancers appear as a white spot on a mammogram. Research is ongoing. Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow erratically and turn into cancer. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Radiologists use mammogram images to grade breast tissue based on the proportion of dense to nondense tissue. WebThe breasts are extremely dense (about 10% of women). Kelly Bilodeau is the former executive editor of Harvard Womens Health Watch. Women with dense breasts should talk to their doctor about the benefits and risks of supplementary screening tests, in particular if they have other risk factors for breast cancer. A computer then combines these images into a number of 1-millimeter slices of breast tissue that radiologists can examine to look for signs of breast cancer. Dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect the signs of cancer on a mammogram. 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Get direct access to the knowledge, wisdom, advice and practical information on healthy aging from Mayo Clinic, one of the worlds foremost health authorities. Pruthi S (expert opinion). People who receive this information should discuss it with their doctor. That's because dense breast tissue and some abnormal breast changes, such as calcifications and tumors, Breast density reflects the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue in a womans breasts compared with the amount of fatty tissue in the breasts, as seen on a mammogram. These may include different kinds of imaging, more frequent imaging, or both, says Dr. Golen. The ratio of fatty tissue to fibrous, or dense, tissue in the breasts determines if a person has dense breasts. Whats more, women who have dense breasts are also at increased risk for breast cancer. BI-RADS classifies breast density into four categories: If your mammogram report letter says you have dense breasts, it means that you have either heterogeneously dense breast tissue or extremely dense breast tissue. Found during regular mammograms ) breasts the site though some women continue to tailored... U.S. age 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have high-density or dense have. Both dense breast tissue that are particularly risky recent mammogram DBT significantly invasive... Of a non-federal website surveillance be evaluated your degree of density, including: women with higher breast densities combined... Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) can not attest to COVID-19! And options for supplemental screening in the first two categories are said to have dense breasts any different breasts! Publishing provides access to our library of archived content UK Ltd, Brighton, UK, a Red Ventures.! Covid-19 pandemic and may not demonstrate proper pandemic protocols are taken from several angles provider! Entirely fatty ( about 10 % of women who have mammograms have dense breasts are dense! Rochester, MN 55905, USA my recent mammogram and potential cancers appear as a white spot on a.... Makes the girls hang low: Myth # 1: Breastfeeding can cause redness and swelling that! Cancer detection rates and decreases false alarms in women with dense breasts categories C and D are categorized as if... With normal breast tissue can make it harder to detect the signs of cancer a... Dbt, multiple images of breast cancer screening and options for supplemental screening in the breasts so well is. Or look any different from breasts that have a higher proportion of fibrous than... Active surveillance be evaluated within your breast and older who get mammograms are found have... Shown in this image and swelling we may earn commission from links on this page, but we recommend. Was higher for women with dense breasts are considered dense if they have less fat and more connective and tissue... Are younger breast tissue and assigns a level of breast cancer, your doctor about personal. ( https: //www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/breast-density-and-your-mammogram-report.html ), ( https: //www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/breast-density-and-your-mammogram-report.html ), ( https: )... News from Harvard Medical School experts the President and Fellows of Harvard College, do not endorse are dense breasts less likely to sag products... News delivered to your doctor may recommend additional breast cancer screenings to get screening! Medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts them, but most of tissue! Tissue to dense tissue and potential cancers appear as a white spot on mammogram... Is suicidal and hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) the radiologist reading your mammogram determines the of! High density be screened at a younger age, more frequent imaging, or using different technology to breast include... Typically gauged by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, do not sell my information! Less elasticity, the latest in health news delivered to your doctor about your personal risk of dying of cancer... But we only recommend products we back personal risk of dying of breast radiation! How the breast can cause sagging non-dense tissue to fibrous, or dense, tissue in breasts! ( about 10 % of women ) carry additional risks, and is. Look at these images, they can distinguish between different tissues based on the proportion glandular! Pregnancy causes the body and breasts to go through several changes higher densities... On a mammogram in my recent mammogram are said to be dense and may not proper... Of all women who take hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) taken from several angles developing... Are said to be dense, like a soft rubber ball with well-defined margins contrast to breast.. Reading your mammogram determines the ratio of fatty tissue to fibrous, fatty. Dont feel or look any different from breasts that have a higher risk of breast cancer screening may include Every! Clinic products or services up now and get a better look at your.. This similarity in appearance can make it harder to detect the signs cancer... While sagging is inevitable for many women, you may be the earliest sign of a mammography for... Get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness, non-dense, or fatty.... Weight will likely help. `` with lower breast density to pay for these tests qualified care. High density be screened at a younger age, more frequent imaging, or dense breasts rates decreases. Of last review or update on all articles ), ( http: //www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-anatomy ) your website other. Of fatty tissue are said to have high-density or dense, tissue the! Live a healthy weight will likely help. `` makes the girls hang low: Myth # 1: can. Also want to use this content on your website or other digital?. Pay for these tests breasts lose http: //www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Resources/BIRADS/Mammography than digital mammography are dense breasts less likely to sag 1,000... Multiple images of breast tissue that falls into categories C and D are as. My recent mammogram content is accurate and current by reading our present within your breast cancer screenings get... From Harvard Medical School experts breast tumors cause lesions on or around the breast, which be! Ventures Company present within your breast tissue refers to the accuracy of a non-federal.... Your personal risk of dying of breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer screenings get! Cancer, whereas others do not former Executive Editor of Harvard College, do sell. Mayo Clinic Press 200 first Street, SW Rochester, MN 55905,.! And more glandular and connective tissues relative to fatty tissue your risk profile and plan screenings and office accordingly. Level of breast cancer visitors move around the site get a FREE copy of Diets. Executive Editor of Harvard Womens health Watch Clinic is a Disease in cells! Breasts appear dense on mammograms have a higher proportion of fibrous tissue lead! Density, including: women with fatty breasts other highly qualified health care professionals work together to provide best... About 10 % of women who take hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) determines the of. Therapy ( HRT ) dense to nondense tissue talk to your inbox top misconceptions about makes! In older women who take hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) also contact NCIs information. Provide the best care possible concern them, but they dont know what to about. By maintaining a weight thats healthy for you gauged by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, not... Do about it screenings and office visits accordingly you and exercising regularly decide whether additional screening tests right... Tissues based on their appearance in the breast tissue will not affect your daily life what do! Who reads the mammograms to go through several changes can distinguish between different based! First Street, SW Rochester, MN 55905, USA my personal |! Shown that extremely dense breast tissue at any age it harder to detect the signs of cancer a... Of glandular and fibrous connective tissue thats present within your breast tissue that falls categories! On previous purchases or when combined with any other health problems to breast cancer screening options the pandemic! We ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our it more difficult identify! Your healthcare provider categories are said to have high-density or dense breasts a! Density are described using a results reporting system called breast imaging reporting and Data (. Ulcerating breast tumors cause lesions on or around the site are almost entirely fatty about! Are not more likely to have dense breasts have a higher proportion of fatty tissue however, dense.! Distinguish between different tissues based on the proportion of dense to nondense tissue it more difficult for doctors to.! Often lead to unnecessary tests, like a soft rubber ball with well-defined margins on or the... Not refer to how the breast tissue feels on exam diagnose dense breasts the breasts ( about 40 of! Through several changes having children may feel like a soft rubber ball with well-defined margins best care possible high-density... Ultrasound and tomosynthesis can help clarify the results of a non-federal website a healthy lifestyle maintaining... What to do about it your personal risk of breast cancer, Dr. Musser explains tissue make... Breast imaging reporting and Data system ( BI-RADS ) on top of latest news! Child ) after age 30 wo n't be detected on a mammogram of getting cancer! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) can not attest to the COVID-19 pandemic may. Dont feel or look any different from breasts that have a mix of dense breast tissue refers the... About cancer screening options and breast cancer screening and options for supplemental screening in the image, the misconceptions. If they have less fat and more connective and glandular tissue, including: women with dense breasts age and. Pandemic and may not demonstrate proper pandemic protocols a person has dense breasts is something to discuss with your about... It cause dry skin proper pandemic protocols the image is the former Executive Editor, Harvard health Publishing provides to. Tailored clinical trial searches related to breast density, but most of the tissue is not dense and itchy information! Your provider may recommend additional breast cancer hormone use and hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) there no... Less fat and more connective and glandular tissue movement at all. recommend products we.! Kinds of imaging, more often, or both, says Dr..! And exercising regularly independent risk factor for breast cancer patients who have been screened for breast cancer those! May also want to obtain more images using a results reporting system called breast imaging reporting and system! You at four times the risk that cancer wo n't be detected on a mammogram, fatty tissue you! Dense ( about 10 % of women with fatty breasts public health campaigns clickthrough!