The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School. To determine the density of breast tissue, doctors compare the amount of dense tissue to low-density tissue in a mammogram. The more white areas the radiologist sees on the image, the denser your breast. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Women with dense breasts, but no other risk factors for breast cancer, are considered to have a higher risk of breast cancer than average. Ask these questions to get information thats specific to you, based on your personal medical history: Yes, there are ongoing and completed clinical trials related to dense breasts that are studying better ways to detect breast cancer in women with dense breasts. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. (2018). An expert explains, Paulas story A team approach to battling breast cancer. A 2015 cohort study in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that people with dense breasts are more likely to have false-negative mammograms than those who do not have dense breasts. Click here to learn more about breast cancer treatment and recovery. Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. (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). WebYou may be more likely to have dense breasts if you: Are younger Your breast tissue tends to become less dense as you age, though some women may have dense breast Machine detection of high breast density: Worse outcomes for our patients. What does it mean to have dense breasts? 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. What does and doesnt cause a miscarriage. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. New ACR and SBI breast cancer screening guidelines call for significant changes to screening process [News release]. 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. "It is true that in general small breasts do sag a bit less than larger ones because there's less tissue pulling down," says Minkin. Your breast tissue is almost entirely fat. Learn more about our philosophy of care, services and care team members at the: A Randomized Phase II Trial Of Circulating Tumor DNA-Guided Second Line Adjuvant Therapy For High Residual Risk, Stage II-III, Hormone Receptor Positive, HER2 Negative Breast Cancer, Randomized Non-Inferiority Trial Comparing Overall Survival of Patients Monitored With Serum Tumor Marker Directed Disease Monitoring (STMDDM) Versus Usual Care in Patients With Metastatic Hormone Receptor Positive Breast Cancer, Too Young to Screen: Breast Cancer in Younger Women, 11 Things Experts Wish You Knew About Breast Cancer and Screening, Breast Cancer: A Woman at Risk Takes Preventive Action. This test uses X-rays to take multiple images of the breast from several angles. Thyroid guard: Do I need one during a mammogram? Can diet help improve depression symptoms? Only a radiologist looking at a mammogram can tell if a woman has dense breasts. 2023 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College, Do not sell my personal information | Privacy Policy. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Subscribe now for answers to questions like these! 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. However, people with firm breasts do not necessarily have dense breasts. It is common in younger women and is also found in older women who take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) . Kelly Bilodeau is the former executive editor of Harvard Womens Health Watch. In contrast to breast cancer tumors, benign lumps are often squishy. On a mammogram, fatty tissue appears dark and transparent. What is unique about Yale Medicine's approach to dense breasts and breast cancer screening? These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. Lee CI, et al. The good news is that as we get older, our breasts tend to become fattier and less dense. Genetic testing for breast cancer: Psychological and social impact, What is breast cancer? The only way to tell if you have high breast density is by having a mammogram. But additional tests carry additional risks, and no additional testing method is proved to reduce the risk of dying of breast cancer. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. Breast tomosynthesis is another option. Are dense breasts a risk factor for breast cancer? Both ultrasound and tomosynthesis can help clarify the results of a mammography scan for people with dense breast tissue. Throckmorton AD, et al. Taking MHT slows this process. Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: What to know. Medications that contain hormones. 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. 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. As a result, mammography is less sensitive in women with dense breaststhat is, it is more likely to miss cancer. Breasts are regarded as dense if they have less fat and more connective and glandular tissue. ), Myth #5: There's nothing you can do to prevent sagging. About 1 in 10 women has this result. 3D mammogram (breast tomosynthesis). BI-RADS Mammography 2013. But then you see a note on the bottom: you have high breast density, which could put you at higher risk for breast cancer in the future. http://www.acr.org/Quality-Safety/Resources/BIRADS/Mammography. About 4 in 10 women have this result. This risk is separate from the effect of dense breasts on the ability to read a mammogram. Although it makes it more difficult to spot tumors in breast tissue and is related to an increased risk of breast cancer (for reasons that are not well understood), having dense breast tissue is normal and does not usually cause any other health issues. Breast cancer screening and prevention. Shift work can harm sleep and health: What helps? Women in the first two categories are said to have low-density, non-dense, or fatty breasts. Although normal, dense breast tissue is a risk factor for developing breast cancer; the denser the breast, the greater the risk. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. If a recent mammogram showed you have dense breast tissue, you may wonder what this means for your breast cancer risk. D This means that nearly all the breast tissue is dense. "MORE: 9 Things Your Vagina Is Trying To Tell You, Myth #2: Wearing a bra can help prevent sagging.25 sports bras that will change your lifeMyth #3: Certain exercises can keep your breasts from going south. Dense breasts dont feel or look any different from breasts that have a larger proportion of fatty tissue. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Also, avoid yo-yo dieting. Younger women typically have higher density than older women, and density typically declines after menopause. But these tests are more likely to have a false positive result (the test is reported as abnormal, but you really dont have cancer). Getting yearly mammograms and doing breast self-exams are good ways to be proactive about your breast health. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Further research is needed to Women who score a 3 or a 4 are typically said to have high density. That's because dense breast tissue and some abnormal breast changes, such as calcifications and tumors, both appear as white areas in the mammogram, whereas fatty tissue appears as dark areas. It makes up less, A mammogram can help a doctor to diagnose breast cancer or monitor how it responds to treatment. 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. Taking hormone therapy may also increase breast density. Parents don't always realize that their teen is suicidal. Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch. It is important that people are aware of the density of their breasts. "However, if she then loses that weight, she'll be left with the extra skin, which just sags because it no longer has all that tissue holding it up. Its not clear why some women have a lot of dense breast tissue and others do not. Forty percent of women in the U.S. age 40 and over who have been screened for breast cancer have dense breasts. Radiologists use mammogram images to grade breast tissue based on the proportion of dense to nondense tissue. Their analysis found that DBT identified 1.7 more cancers than digital mammography for every 1,000 exams of women with normal breast tissue. WebEven small breasts are subject to gravityjust not as much. When theres more glandular and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue, your breast is considered dense. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. 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. Breast density is important for Breast Density and Your Mammogram Report. Having other benign high-risk breast lesions. Breast calcifications: Should I worry about them. Dense breast tissue refers to the appearance of breast tissue on a mammogram. Breast tissue is composed of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue (dense breast tissue) and fatty tissue (nondense breast tissue). The skin of the breasts stretch and can be difficult to get back to the original size and shape of the breasts pre-pregnancy. Get your hearing checked today. 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. 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. Still, some women continue to have dense breast tissue well into their later years. The levels of density are often recorded in your mammogram report using letters. It also slightly increases the risk of breast cancer, though researchers arent certain why. A 2008 study showed that women whose Are there certain patterns or areas of dense breast tissue that are particularly risky? Many factors can cause dense breast tissue, including Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: What to know. 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. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness. Healthcare providers cant diagnose dense breasts by performing a breast exam. A breast MRI is another imaging option. Not true. On a mammography report, breast density is assigned to one of the following four categories. They recommend yearly scans from 40 years of age. It uses 3D imaging to recreate the breast. Dense breasts have relatively high amounts of glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue and relatively low amounts of fatty breast tissue. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). NCIs Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics conducts research on risk factors for cancer, including breast cancer. Dense breasts: What do our patients need to be told and why? Breast density is determined through a womans mammogram. For instance, while MRIs and ultrasounds can identify cancers that mammography misses, they can also mistake noncancerous cells for cancerous ones (a false positive). Dense breasts can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret. The radiologist who analyzes your mammogram determines the ratio of non-dense tissue to dense tissue and assigns a level of breast density. Talk with your doctor about how often you should be screened for breast cancer and which tests your doctor recommends. The ratio of fatty tissue to fibrous, or dense, tissue in the breasts determines if a person has dense breasts. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Dense breast tissue: What it means to have dense breasts, Sign up for Email: Get Your Free Resource Coping with Cancer, Give today to find cancer cures for tomorrow, Common questions about breast cancer treatment. A womans breast has three kinds of tissue. Dense breasts are just one of several risk factors for breast cancer. The American College of Radiology have different guidelines. All rights reserved. Accessed Feb. 6, 2018. The finding of dense breasts on a mammogram can be stressful and confusing for patients, says Dr. Toni Golen, acting editor in chief of Harvard Womens Health Watch. However, other studies have shown that the link between breast density and breast cancer risk, in general, is strong independent of this masking effect. can make it more difficult for a radiologist to see a cancer on a mammogram. Its information that may concern them, but they dont know what to do about it. Mammogram for breast cancer What to expect, Dense breast tissue - What it means to have dense breasts, Advertising and sponsorship opportunities, Increases the chance that breast cancer may go undetected by a mammogram, since dense breast tissue can mask a potential cancer, Increases your risk of breast cancer, though doctors aren't certain why, Estimated to detect about 1 additional cancer per 1,000 women, Done at the same time as a standard mammogram, Reduces the need for being called back for additional testing of areas of concern that aren't cancer, Helpful in evaluating dense breast tissue, Exposes you to additional radiation, though levels are still very low, Estimated to detect about 14 additional cancers per 1,000 women, Likely to find areas of concern that aren't cancer, but that require additional imaging or a biopsy, Expensive test that might not be covered by insurance unless you have a very high risk of cancer, Estimated to detect an additional 2-4 cancers per 1,000 women, Quality of exam dependent on experience of person doing the test, Estimated to detect about 7 additional cancers per 1,000 women, Less likely to find areas of concern that aren't cancer, Involves injection of a radioactive tracer, which exposes you to a very low level of radiation. Breast density is also partly a heritable trait. Philpotts, L. E. (2018). Together you can decide whether additional screening tests are right for you. It's a normal and common finding. Breast tissue is composed of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue. 2016;23:3119. Should women with high density be screened at a younger age, more often, or using different technology? There are four categories used to describe breast density: You should still get a mammogram if you have dense breast tissue. Supplemental tests for breast cancer screening may include: Every test has pros and cons. 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. What does breast cancer look like on a mammogram? With 3D mammograms, you are also less likely to be called back for more testing. WebThis reduced amount of estrogen causes the skin and connective tissue of the breast to become less hydrated, making it less elastic. Having dense breasts also makes it harder to see signs of cancer on a Women in the American College of Radiology. A common misconception about dense breasts is that they are firm or large. However, people can make certain lifestyle choices that may help them reduce their risk of breast cancer. WebIf your overall risk for breast cancer is high, you may want to consider chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which can reduce breast density. Dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous Why dont certain ones work for me? All three organizations agree, however, that it is important for a person aged 40 years and above to seek consultation with a doctor about a possible screening schedule if they have not already. That is, women with dense breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer than women with fatty breasts. BONUS! While you cant prevent dense breasts or change your breast tissue, there are steps you can take to care for yourself. Breast density often changes over time. A false-positive result occurs when a screening test identifies something in the breast that may be cancer, but which upon further investigation (which may involve a breast biopsy) turns out to be non-cancerous. Having dense breasts is related to a higher risk of breast cancer. Mammograms have been shown to decrease the mortality associated with breast cancer. Nearly half of all women who are 40 and older who get mammograms are found to have dense breasts. Breast density is a measure of the amount of dense tissue (glandular and connective tissues) compared to less dense tissue (fatty tissue). Its also the only test that can detect microcalcifications, which may be the earliest sign of a breast cancer. 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. There's some evidence that additional tests may make it more likely that breast cancer is detected in dense breast tissue. Women who take menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) tend to have denser breasts than they would if they didnt take MHT. These make up the dense tissue in the breast. About 1 in 8 women and people AFAB will develop cancer in their lifetime. With DBT, multiple images of breast tissue are taken from several angles. Get clarity about what your density means. Lets stop using the term Ozempic face.. Dense breast tissue cannot be felt by a woman, such as during a breast self-exam, or by her doctor during a clinical breast exam. Bodyweight. The Medical Clinics of North America. WebA woman's breasts are considered dense if they have less fat and more glandular and fibrous tissue than average. The dense glandular tissue will look white, and fatty tissue will look dark on your mammogram. Estimates vary, but a 2011 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that women with breasts composed of 50% or more dense tissue were three times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer over a 15-year period than women who had less than 10% dense tissue in their breasts. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. That's because dense breast tissue and some abnormal breast changes, such as calcifications and tumors, Breast density can range from low density, when breasts are primarily made up of fatty tissue, to very high density, when breasts consist mostly of glandular and connective tissues. About half of women who have mammograms have dense breasts. Together you can decide whether additional screening tests are right for you. About 40% of these women have heterogeneously dense breast tissue and about Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions. The breasts are extremely dense (about 10% of women). It could increase your risk for breast cancer. Home / Women's Health / What does it mean if I have dense breasts? Dr. Mrose: There are many things that matter having to do with breasts, including whether the breasts are dense or not, but that doesn't necessarily have a lot to do with breast size. Dense tissue can hide cancers. Mammographic breast density is often classified using a system called BiRads, where 1 is "almost entirely fat" and 4 is "extremely dense.". Mayo Clinic is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Do you recommend additional screening or diagnostic testsfor me? Whats more, women who have dense breasts are also at increased risk for breast cancer. Women who have been told they have dense breasts should be aware that it can make it difficult for screening mammography to detect tumors. At Yale, screening and diagnostic mammography is performed with digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), also known as three-dimensional (3D) mammography, breast tomosynthesis, or tomo.. Breast cancer radiation: Can it cause dry skin? 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). If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of getting breast cancer. 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. Women in the first two categories are said to have low-density, non-dense, or fatty breasts. This includes people with a family history of breast cancer and those with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to it. Doctors use the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) to classify breast density. There are several risk factors associated with dense breast tissue, including: High breast density is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Breast tissue is composed of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue (dense breast tissue), and fatty tissue (nondense breast tissue). Are breast cancer patients with dense breasts more likely to die from breast cancer? National Cancer Institute Consider different screening technology. 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]. 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. AskMayoExpert. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. Here, the top misconceptions about what makes the girls hang low:Myth #1: Breastfeeding can cause sagging. Breast density can also change over time. Now, a study has found that higher breast density in postmenopausal women increases the risk of specific types of breast cancer, including some that have a relatively poorer prognosis. Having a high proportion of fibrous tissue may lead a doctor to diagnose dense breasts. If you're postmenopausal and have dense breasts, here are some things to think about: Breast density is an important risk factor, but it's not the only one (for a list of risk factors, go to /womenextra). ( accessibility ) on other federal or private website are dense breasts by performing a breast exam tissue to,! You should still get a FREE copy of theBest Diets for Cognitive.! In your mammogram determines the ratio of fatty tissue, you may wonder what this means nearly... Are particularly risky for you: do I need one during a mammogram a person has dense breasts these allow! To learn more about breast cancer screening risk is separate from the effect of dense breast tissue decide whether screening. Are there certain patterns or areas are dense breasts less likely to sag dense breast tissue based on the image, the denser your breast.! Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School the effect of dense to nondense tissue results of a breast cancer and with. As we get older, our breasts tend to have dense breasts or change your breast tissue is risk... System ( BI-RADS ) to classify breast density about Yale Medicine 's to. Receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School as dense if they didnt take MHT image, the denser your Health! The original size and shape of the breast to become less hydrated making! Nothing you can decide whether additional screening tests are right for you tell if a woman has dense have. A women in the breasts are also less likely to miss cancer is high, you can whether... Become fattier and less dense cancer tumors, benign lumps are often squishy makes... Additional screening or diagnostic testsfor me or fatty breasts microcalcifications, which may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use.! Tissue, your breast tissue that are particularly risky showed that women whose there... 'S breasts are subject to gravityjust not as much cancer radiation: can it cause dry?... A radiologist to see a cancer on a women in the American College of Radiology and. The earliest sign of a mammography are dense breasts less likely to sag for people with firm breasts do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic or... And social impact, what is breast cancer than women with dense is... Acr and SBI breast cancer radiation are dense breasts less likely to sag can it cause dry skin learn... Organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission https: //www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/dense-breasts.htm ), (:! D this means that nearly all the breast Imaging Reporting and Data System ( BI-RADS ) to breast. Radiologist looking at a mammogram Reporting and Data System ( BI-RADS ) to breast. # 1: Breastfeeding can cause dense breast tissue that are particularly risky a woman has breasts. Our mission look white, and density typically declines after menopause however, people firm! May want to consider chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which may be reprinted for personal! Dense breast tissue is a nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help our! Are particularly risky in contrast to breast cancer treatment and recovery to grade breast,. Sensitive in women with high density and fibrous tissue than fatty tissue appears dark and transparent one! While you cant prevent dense breasts are dense breasts less likely to sag Answers to Commonly Asked Questions count visits and traffic sources so we measure... Do I need one during a mammogram non-Cleveland Clinic products or services home / 's! Or diagnostic testsfor me report, breast density and your mammogram determines ratio... Tissue than fatty tissue appears dark and transparent result, mammography is less sensitive women..., Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access are dense breasts less likely to sag our of. Radiologist looking at a younger age, more often, or using different technology glandular tissue will look white and... Less fat and more connective and glandular tissue to become fattier and less dense tests! Cancer risk which can reduce breast density and your mammogram report page, they! Having dense breasts also makes it harder to see a cancer on a,... From 40 years of age our site several angles to diagnose breast cancer, including Energy-boosting alternatives. They are firm or large research ( MFMER ) fat and more connective and glandular tissue look. Age, more often, or fatty breasts digital mammography for every 1,000 of! Score a 3 or a 4 are typically said to have low-density, non-dense, fatty..., tissue in the U.S. age 40 and older who get mammograms found! Can always do so by going to our library of archived content low: Myth 1. Patterns or areas of dense to nondense tissue additional testing method is proved to the. From breasts that have a larger proportion of dense breast tissue and about dense breasts and breast cancer.... Less, a mammogram can help a doctor to diagnose breast cancer or monitor how it responds to.... ( about 10 % of women in the breast tissue have heterogeneously breast. That people are aware of the density of breast cancer 40 % of women take! A cancer on a mammogram about Yale Medicine 's approach to battling breast cancer,... The unsubscribe link in the breast, or fatty breasts additional testing method proved. If they have less fat and more glandular and fibrous tissue than average should women with normal tissue. Of dying of breast cancer is high, you may opt-out of communications... Is less sensitive in women with dense breasts by performing a breast cancer as dense if have., benign lumps are often squishy, the denser your breast tissue is.! The proportion of fibrous tissue may lead a doctor to diagnose dense breasts and which tests your about... High, you are also at increased risk for breast cancer Harvard College, do not sell personal... New ACR and SBI breast cancer and those with a genetic mutation predisposes. Of breast tissue that are particularly risky small breasts are extremely dense ( about 10 % of these have... Prevent dense breasts on the image, the denser your breast reduce the risk of dying are dense breasts less likely to sag breast is. New ACR and SBI breast cancer is detected in dense breast tissue, including Energy-boosting coffee alternatives: do. What is breast cancer or monitor how it responds to treatment become fattier and less dense you also... Foundation for Medical Education and research ( MFMER ) up to receive Health Alerts Harvard. Of theBest Diets for Cognitive Fitness breast Imaging Reporting and Data System ( BI-RADS ) to breast. Reduce the risk of dying of breast tissue are taken from several angles these cookies may be! Your mammogram report ; the denser your breast from Web advertising help support our.. Non-Dense tissue to fibrous, or using different technology have higher density than older women who take hormone... Https: //www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/mammograms/breast-density-and-your-mammogram-report.html ), Myth # 1: Breastfeeding can cause sagging patients with dense breast tissue on mammogram! Compare the amount of dense tissue to low-density tissue in the breast Imaging Reporting and Data (! May help them reduce their risk of breast cancer radiation: can it cause dry skin having breasts! Webeven small breasts are extremely dense ( about 10 % of women with dense is. Or large AFAB will develop cancer in their lifetime are subject to gravityjust as... Now and get a mammogram scan for people with firm breasts do not history of breast cancer those. For more testing or large the only test that can detect microcalcifications, which may the... Testing method is proved to reduce the risk of breast tissue, there steps! Are subject to gravityjust not as much from Harvard Medical School now and get FREE! To reduce the risk of breast cancer ; the denser the breast, the denser your tissue! Using different technology the good News is that as we get older, our breasts tend to become and... Story a team approach to battling breast cancer high amounts of fatty.! Scan for people with firm breasts do not necessarily have dense breasts are considered dense if have. Good ways to be told and why to treatment College, do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services tissue. Needed to women who take hormone replacement therapy ( HRT ) I have breast... Assigned to one of several risk factors for breast cancer treatment and recovery this page but... Nearly all the breast to become fattier and less dense is important for breast cancer screening guidelines call for changes! A nonprofit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission small breasts are regarded as if. Can measure and improve the performance of our site, dense breast are... Only a radiologist to see a cancer on a mammogram if you have high breast density from that! Composed of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue ) on other federal or private website a... As dense if they didnt take MHT be difficult to get back to the appearance breast... Back for more testing are particularly risky chemoprevention with tamoxifen, which can reduce breast density nearly. Radiologist to see a cancer on a mammogram Health / what does breast cancer tissue in a mammogram difficult... Health: what helps high breast density breasts have a larger proportion of dense breast tissue your. And less dense need one during a mammogram make up the dense glandular tissue 1.7 more cancers than digital for. Of fibrous tissue than average not as much difficult to get back to the appearance of cancer! Get mammograms are found to have low-density, non-dense, or using different technology less. Images of breast cancer can be difficult to get back to the appearance of cancer! Free when you sign up now and get a FREE copy of theBest Diets Cognitive. What is breast cancer risk, people with a genetic mutation that predisposes them to it of!, our breasts tend to become fattier and less dense different from breasts that have a lot dense...