Breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer and it makes it tougher to
find tiny tumors we're gonna teach you all about it.
If you have very dense breasts, as noted on your mammogram report, that imparts to
you a double-whammy problem. On the one hand increased density makes you an
increased lifetime risk for developing breast cancer when compared to the
normal population that doesn't have as dense breast and on the other hand it is
harder to find tiny little tumors when they're developing and more curable.
Because of that density, it obscures us seeing them when they're small. So if you
have breast density, I'm going to share with you your options, what you need to
know, and what you need to do about it. In this lesson I'm going to tell you
exactly what breast density is. I'm gonna teach you the challenges that come with
screening women with dense breasts. I'm also gonna tell you why the getting 3d
mammograms are essential and also some new technologies such as automated whole
breast ultrasound that can help identify tumors when they're small if you have
dense breasts so let's get started what exactly is breast density on a
mammogram? Well, breast density is a term used by
radiologists that read mammograms to describe the hard to see through tissue,
thicker tissue, within a breast on a mammogram. Some women have no density
in their mammogram. Other women have severe density, but when you take
the women that we categorize as dense breast, about 30 to 40 percent of women
have dense breast. The problem is, is that if you have very dense breasts it
imparts for a reason we cannot explain an increased lifetime risk of developing
breast cancer. There's nothing that you can do to make it go away nor is there
anything that you would have done to develop breast density, it's just a part
of you. If you're younger, let's say you're getting mammograms in your 40s,
women in their 40s have a higher incidence of breast density than when
they're 50 or 60 or 70. So women lose density in general as they age, but
that's not true for every person. The medical community is still
learning about breast density. We really don't know what causes it. We're trying
to learn what it means for you and what we can do to work around this problem so
we can find breast cancers, very small, very early, when they're curable. So why
does breast density pose such a challenge when you're getting an annual
screening mammogram. Well, think about mammograms going in annually. You have no
symptoms, no lumps or bumps. We're trying to look into your breasts to find things
that you not yet are able to feel. And when you do a mammogram, if you have a
low-density breast or no density breast, it's almost like x-raying through a
glass of water you can see almost anything. So when it's really small and
if you have very dense breasts, then it's almost like x-raying a brick. It's hard
to find a little tiny thing in that dense area of breast tissue. And the
radiologists use a categorization a scouring and I want you to remember this
term, bi-rads density score. B-I-R-A-D-S, bi-rads density score. And they score women
on a score from one low or no density to four extreme dense breast and if you are
one or two but three or four, that's considered high breast density or dense
breast. So you can visit our website at BreastCancerCourse.org and we have a
well explained outline regarding bi-rads score and why you should get that
information from your doctor so you know if you have dense breasts sometimes you
never hear about that. If you do have dense breasts as I've shared with you
your to increase risk lifetime to developing breast cancer and so, the
message is mammograms are still important for you if you have breast
density, but they're just not not quite as accurate but make sure you continue
with your annual screening mammogram and I'm gonna share more
information about this topic and how to screen coming next.
Why are 3D mammograms essential if you have dense breasts?
Well, digital two-view mammograms are everywhere. Take a picture in one
direction, take a picture in another direction the radiologist reads it and
it's a very good way to screen you for cancer. But 3D mammograms are made for
women who have dense breasts. It still takes x-rays in one direction but the head of
the x-ray machine arcs and it goes click click click click click and takes a
bunch of little images and it does the same with others and the radiologists
use a sophisticated computer and terminal to look at these images and
better look through your dense breasts to find out if you have a small cancer
and also, it decreases the chance that the radiologist tell you to come back
for a follow-up x-ray and it decreases the chance they recommend a biopsy that
you never need it 3D mammograms are not available everywhere, but they're rolling
out across the country and if you have very dense breasts, the Breast Cancer
School for Patients recommends you find a facility that offers 3D mammography. A
new technology designed for breast density is automated whole breast
ultrasound. So let me tell you about it. You've heard of ultrasound where you
place gel on the skin and use a handheld probe to look into the body. The breast
in this situation. Usual breast ultrasound is used to find a problem you
have a lump we want to see if it's a cyst or a growth, it's very helpful. But
it's not good for screening. Automated whole breast ultrasound is an FDA
approved device and technology where there's an ultrasound pad that's placed
on the breast an ultrasound can scan through the entire breast and then take
that information and create a three-dimensional image so then the
radiologist can look at that three-dimensional image compare it to a
mammogram and compare it to last year's automated whole breast ultrasound and
find if there are new growths. Automated whole breast
ultrasound is not everywhere in fact it's not available in many places but
when combined with mammographic screening and in women with very dense
breasts, it can increase the chance of picking up a small cancer by almost 50%.
So if you are really nervous about your breast density and really nervous about
your increased risk for developing breast cancer and want to go beyond a 3D
mammogram, you can visit our website and there's good links to places that can
guide you to facilities that offer whole breast ultrasound. If you have
significantly dense breasts that take-home message is the following, get
annual mammograms and also 3D mammograms. If they're available to you 3D
tomosynthesis is made for you if you have dense breasts. Discuss with
your doctor, ask them if you have dense breasts on your mammogram, ask them to
give you a copy of your last mammogram report and ask them what your bi-rads
score is. The terminology is actually changing, but one two three or four, three
or four or very dense or extremely dense breasts on mammogram and have them tell
you what to do about it. And if you really want to go the extra
mile in your breast screening, if you have dense breasts, consider automated
whole breast ultrasound to learn more about breast density, visit the breast
cancer school for patients where we teach you everything you need to know.
We're here to help you get the best possible breast cancer care in your
community, register on our website to get our list of questions to prepare you for
your next doctor visit.