Breast Density—Not sure if you have dense breasts? Why does it matter? Ask your doctor which breast cancer screening options are right for you.
Breasts are made up of a mixture of fibrous and glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Your breasts are considered dense if you have a lot of fibrous or glandular tissue but not much fat. Density may decrease with age, but there is little if any, change in most women. How do I know if I have dense breasts? Breast density is determined by the radiologist who reads your screening mammogram.
Having dense breast tissue may increase your risk of getting breast cancer. Dense breasts make it more difficult for doctors to spot cancer on screening mammograms. Dense tissue appears white on a screening mammogram. Benign and cancerous lumps also appear white. So, screening mammograms can be less accurate in women with dense breasts.
