Mammograms are an essential aspect of women's health; it's a preventive screening tool that allows doctors to find tumors or cancer before it spreads. Most women should begin having mammograms at age 40 unless they are at high risk for breast cancer.
One of the more significant indicators of breast cancer is how dense your breast tissue is, but what does that even mean? The FDA now requires every mammogram report to state the density of a woman's breast tissue, so they know their specific risk for breast cancer.
When you need a mammogram or need help interpreting your results, Monique Petteys, FNP-C, and The Women's Center at Life Point Medical team are here to help. Monique specializes in women's wellness, including breast cancer screenings, Pap smears, and gynecology.
Breast density is an essential factor that women should know because of the risk of breast cancer. It measures how much glandular and fibrous tissue is in the breasts compared to fatty tissue.
To understand breast density, you must understand what makes up the inside of your breasts. Various types of tissue make up your breasts, including:
The lobules and ducts comprise glandular tissue, while the fatty and fibrous tissue holds the other structures in place, giving your breasts their shape.
The significance of dense breasts is how well the tissues appear on a mammogram. Fibrous and glandular tissue can hide tumors or masses because they both appear white on the mammogram, making it more likely to miss small changes that could indicate cancer.
The FDA's Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) went into effect nationwide on September 10, 2024. The FDA developed the act in March 2023 to notify patients of their breast density in the mammogram report.
Every patient's mammography report needs to state an overall report of the density of their breasts. Your report should state one of the following:
It's great that you get more information on your breast tissue, but what exactly does it all mean? In the summary of the mammography report, you must state that you have either dense or non-dense breast tissue, which must follow with one of two statements.
The first statement for non-dense breasts reports that dense breast tissue makes it harder to find masses and increases the risk of breast cancer. It also states that your breast tissue isn't dense, and you should follow up with your provider about breast cancer risk and your specific situation.
The second statement is for those with dense breasts. The report also says that dense breast tissue makes it hard to find masses and increases the risk of cancer. It then reports that you have dense breast tissue, and you should follow up with your provider to discuss your breast cancer risk and specific health concerns.
Women with dense breast tissue are at a higher risk for breast cancer for many reasons. However, researchers don't completely understand why dense breast tissue increases women's chances of developing breast cancer.
One theory is that the excess cells in dense breast tissue have more of a chance of mutating into cancer. However, not every woman with dense breast tissue will develop cancer, especially with regular mammogram screenings.
When you should start getting mammograms and how often depends on many factors, including your age and specific risk of developing breast cancer. For example, someone who's at high risk for developing breast cancer should have mammograms earlier and more often than someone who isn’t.
The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women between 40 and 70 have a mammogram every two years. However, many variables affect how often and when you should have a mammogram.
You may need to have a mammogram earlier than 40 if you find a lump or have suspicious symptoms or if you have a high risk of developing breast cancer. Monique can speak to you about your specific circumstances regarding mammogram frequency.
Call The Women's Center at Life Point Medical today to schedule an appointment for a wellness exam, or request a consultation with Monique using our convenient online booking tool.
