Perhaps you’re studying up on breast cancer screening guidelines and see that 3D mammograms are sometimes really helpful for dense breast tissue. Or maybe you simply had your first mammogram, and your outcomes say you may have dense breast tissue. Both approach, now you’re questioning: What’s dense breast tissue? Are dense breasts regular?
Sure, dense breast tissue is regular. It’s additionally quite common – about half of girls have dense breasts. And sadly, dense breast tissue is a risk factor for breast cancer.
Under, we clarify what it means to have dense breasts, why it could barely improve your danger of breast most cancers and what to do about it.
What’s “dense breast tissue”?
There are various kinds of tissues in your breasts. Dense breast tissue has extra cells than non-dense tissue in the identical quantity of area.
Right here’s a better have a look at every kind of tissue that make up your breasts, and if it’s thought of dense:
- Fatty tissue – Any such tissue is non-dense and fills in your breasts, making them comfortable.
- Fibroglandular tissue – Glandular tissues are answerable for milk manufacturing, and fibrous connective tissues maintain each fatty and glandular tissues in place. Collectively, they’re known as fibroglandular tissue and regarded dense tissue.
Other than being a sort of tissue inside your breasts, dense breast tissue is usually used to explain what dense breasts appear to be on a mammogram. Breast density relies on the quantity of fibroglandular tissue in comparison with the quantity of fatty tissue.
When you’ve got loads of fibroglandular tissue, your breasts are thought of dense. Breast density is decided by a radiologist. Radiologists are medical docs who’re specifically educated in medical imaging – making them consultants in studying mammogram pictures
Classes of breast density
Docs categorize breast tissue density based mostly on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS®) developed by the American School of Radiology. These classes are based mostly on the proportion of glandular or fibrous connective tissue that they see in your breasts and are sometimes listed as A-D.
| Breast density class | How a lot fibroglandular tissue? | What number of girls have them? | Thought-about dense? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class A Nearly completely fatty |
<25% | 10% | No |
| Class B Scattered areas of fibroglandular density |
25-50% | 40% | No |
| Class C Heterogeneously dense which can obscure small plenty |
51-75% | 40% | Sure |
| Class D Extraordinarily dense, which lowers the sensitivity of the mammogram. |
>75% | 10% | Sure |
Causes of dense breast tissue
There are particular components that may make it kind of doubtless that you simply’ll have dense breasts. Your danger components may change over time.
Causes you’re extra more likely to have dense breast tissue
- Genetics – Dense breast tissue is normally inherited. So when you have dense breasts, it’s very doubtless that you’ve got a mom or sister who has them too.
- Low physique mass index – Individuals who have a decrease proportion of physique fats usually tend to have dense breasts.
- Postmenopausal hormone substitute remedy (HRT) – Whereas some research present that hormone substitute remedy might improve your possibilities of having dense breasts and breast most cancers danger, information is conflicting and no particular improve has been confirmed. So, it’s greatest to speak along with your physician or clinician in regards to the dangers and advantages of HRT.
- You’re pre-menopausal – If you happen to’re below 50 years outdated and haven’t gone via menopause, you’re more likely to have dense breasts. As much as 75% of girls between the ages of 40-49 have dense breasts.
Is it attainable to cut back breast density?
Whereas sure components could make it extra doubtless that you simply’ll have dense breasts, there actually isn’t something you are able to do to vary your breast density. For instance, you possibly can’t decrease your breast density by altering what you eat or rising how a lot you train.
Are there any signs of dense breasts?
No, there aren’t any signs of dense breasts. Dense breasts don’t look in a different way from the surface – they aren’t in a different way formed, nor are they larger or smaller than different breasts.
In truth, you in all probability gained’t know when you have dense breasts till after you’ve had a mammogram – generally, dense breasts are literally known as “mammographically dense breasts.”
How docs use mammograms to find out breast density
A mammogram makes use of X-ray know-how to seize pictures of the within of breasts. Relying on the kind of mammogram, both 2D or 3D pictures are created and reviewed by a radiologist. As we talked about earlier, a radiologist is a medical physician with particular coaching in medical imaging.
Mammography pictures will present the within of your breast in a mix of white and grey, identical to different varieties of X-rays. Dense breast tissue has a white background, whereas much less dense tissue reveals as grey.
Utilizing their experience, the radiologist will sometimes report your tissue density in your mammogram outcomes. In Minnesota, for instance, all mammography suppliers are required by regulation to report breast density to sufferers with dense breasts.
Why breast density issues
There are two predominant causes to care about your breast tissue density.
1. Dense breast tissue has a barely greater danger of creating cancerous cells
For most girls, breast density isn’t a serious breast most cancers danger issue. However because it’s not a danger issue you possibly can change, it’s nonetheless essential to concentrate on.
When you’ve got heterogeneously dense breasts, which is “Class C” on the BI-RADS® scale we talked about earlier, your danger of breast most cancers is 1.2 instances the conventional danger. When you’ve got extraordinarily dense breasts, which is “Class D”, your breast most cancers danger doubles. However it’s essential to know that whereas this elevated danger could seem comparatively excessive, the precise danger for breast most cancers for girls with extraordinarily dense breasts remains to be low.
It’s additionally essential to remember the fact that breast density isn’t the one issue that influences your breast most cancers danger. Different danger components reminiscent of age, household historical past, early menstruation, weight loss program, alcohol use, weight problems, lack of bodily exercise, radiation to the chest and hormone substitute remedy may improve your dangers.
2. Most cancers could also be more durable to seek out in dense breasts
Dense breast tissue might make it tougher to establish most cancers with a mammogram and could also be related to a slight elevated danger of breast most cancers.
As we talked about earlier, dense breast tissue has a white background on a mammogram. Most cancers reveals as a white spot or white dots on a mammogram. So, discovering these white spots or white dots may be more durable on a white background than on a grey background.
And whereas it could be barely more durable for mammography to detect most cancers in dense breasts, common screening mammograms are nonetheless really helpful for girls with dense breasts. Your primary care doctor or clinician, OB-GYN or different girls’s well being specialist will help you identify when or how typically you need to be screened based mostly in your particular person danger components.
Discover out when you have dense breasts (and display for breast most cancers)
The density of your breasts issues as a result of it might improve your likelihood of creating breast most cancers. Getting a mammogram is one of the best ways to study your breast tissue density.
If you happen to’re over 40 and haven’t gotten a mammogram, discuss to your physician about when it is best to begin – your yearly preventive care go to is a good time to carry up the subject. If you happen to’re due for a bodily, schedule a preventive care appointment now.
After all, when you’re able to get a mammogram, there’s no want to attend. Most mammograms are women’s preventive screenings lined by insurance coverage. However protection relies on your particular plan. So, it’s a good suggestion to test to see how assessments and screenings are lined by your insurance coverage earlier than scheduling your appointment.
