What is Breast Density?

31.12.13 / Breast Density / Author: admin

So, you’ve been told your dense …. Well, at least your Breasts are dense!  What does that actually mean?

Breast Density looks at the different tissue within your breast, and what it is made up of.  It can be made up of  fatty (non-dense) tissue and connective (dense) tissue.  Dense tissue can be:  fibrous or glandular tissue.

Your breast density can be measured with a mammogram.  The breast tissue will show up much more white than less dense tissue, which will show as grey and transparent.  You might feel quite thick and lumpy all the time, and for women, not just when menstrual.

Breast Density decreases with age and after menopause due to hormonal changes.  But it is different across women of the same age.  It is also higher in pregnancy and lactation.  Hormonal therapy can also increase breast density.

It is recognised that increased breast density means there is also an increased risk of breast cancer, while leading to a lower accuracy or ‘sensitivity’ of mammographic screening for cancer detection.  But this is a controversial area.

The main issue in Australia is that women who have dense breasts on a mammogram are not currently monitored any differently from other women.  Even though there is mounting evidence to suggest that breast density is linked to a greater lifetime risk of breast cancer, more aggressive tumours and a 50% change of screening missing tumours.

Further information here: http://www.breastscreen.health.wa.gov.au/docs/BSWA_BreastDensityInformationSheet_March2013.pdf