All breasts contain glands, fibrous tissue, and fat. Dense tissue is made of glands and fibrous tissue (referred to as “fibroglandular” tissue). Dense tissue blocks x-rays and therefore appears white on a mammogram. Fatty tissue allows more x-rays to penetrate and therefore shows up as black or dark gray on a mammogram. Each woman’s breasts contain a unique mix of fatty and dense tissue. Some women’s breasts are almost all fat, some have very little fat, and some are in-between. Dense breasts are normal and tend to become less dense with age and menopause.
Breast density is not determined by how a breast looks or feels. Dense breast tissue can only be identified through a mammogram. The radiologist determines the breast density by examining the images from your mammogram screening. Refer to the Mammography Result Notification Letter to learn about your breast density.Breast density is not determined by how a breast looks or feels. Dense breast tissue can only be identified through a mammogram. The radiologist determines the breast density by examining the images from your mammogram screening. Refer to the Mammography Result Notification Letter to learn about your breast density.
Dense breasts are “normal.” On average, about 40% of women of mammography age have dense breasts. However, because dense breast tissue can hide cancer on a mammogram, it may reduce the ability of your radiologist to find cancer if present. A “normal,” “negative,” or “benign” mammogram does not reliably exclude cancer in women with dense breasts.Women with dense breasts may have cancer detected soon after a “normal” or “negative” mammogram (this is known as an “interval cancer”). If your mammogram shows you have dense breasts, you should discuss additional screening options with your health care provider.
Absolutely! Talk to your referring physician about the other imaging options available including: 3D Mammography, Breast Ultrasound, and/or Breast MRI. Research suggests that adding more sensitive tests to mammography can significantly increase the detection of invasive cancers
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is an adult-onset, cancer predisposition syndrome. HBOC is characterized by a high risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and an increased risk of other cancers such as male breast cancer, prostate, pancreatic and melanoma.
The name BRCA is the abbreviation for Breast Cancer gene. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two genes that are most important to fighting cancer. They are tumor suppressor genes, found in every human and is responsible for mitigating breast, ovarian, and other types of cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an otherwise uncontrolled way.
We recommend genetic counseling for HBOC for women who have strong personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancers. During this procedure, genetic counselors review your family history in depth and help you decide if testing for the BRCA gene is right for you.
Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) is an adult-onset, cancer predisposition syndrome. HBOC is characterized by a high risk of breast and ovarian cancers, and an increased risk of other cancers such as male breast cancer, prostate, pancreatic and melanoma.
The name BRCA is the abbreviation for Breast Cancer gene. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are the two genes that are most important to fighting cancer. They are tumor suppressor genes, found in every human and is responsible for mitigating breast, ovarian, and other types of cells from growing and dividing too rapidly or in an otherwise uncontrolled way.
We recommend genetic counseling for HBOC for women who have strong personal or family history of breast and/or ovarian cancers. During this procedure, genetic counselors review your family history in depth and help you decide if testing for the BRCA gene is right for you.
