{"id":635273,"date":"2024-09-09T23:53:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T20:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/"},"modified":"2024-09-09T23:53:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-09T20:53:00","slug":"what-to-know-about-dense-breasts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/","title":{"rendered":"#What to know about dense breasts"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32f159ed5df\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a32f159ed5df\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/#What_does_it_mean_if_a_woman_has_dense_breasts\" >What does it mean if a woman has dense breasts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/#How_do_dense_breasts_affect_mammogram_readings\" >How do dense breasts affect mammogram readings?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/#Should_women_with_dense_breasts_still_have_a_mammogram\" >Should women with dense breasts still have a mammogram?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/#What_are_the_next_steps_for_women_with_dense_breasts\" >What are the next steps for women with dense breasts?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/what-to-know-about-dense-breasts\/#Does_the_FDA_rule_mean_insurance_will_cover_the_cost_of_additional_screening_for_women_with_dense_breasts\" >Does the FDA rule mean insurance will cover the cost of additional screening for women with dense breasts?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>All women who undergo breast cancer screening with a mammogram in the U.S. must now find out if they have dense breasts \u2014 a risk factor for developing <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/breast-cancer\" data-ylk=\"slk:breast cancer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">breast cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Starting Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, all mammogram facilities across the country will be required to notify patients about the density of their breasts as part of updated mammography regulations published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2023.<\/p>\n<p>The information will also explain how breast density can influence the accuracy of mammography and recommend patients with dense breasts talk to their doctor about what it means and how it relates to their breast cancer risk.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Dense breast tissue can mask a cancer,&#8221; NBC <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> medical contributor Dr. Natalie Azar said on TODAY during a segment that aired on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. &#8220;But that fibrous and glandular tissue that makes up that dense breast tissue, there&#8217;s a higher risk of developing cancer in that tissue as opposed to just fatty tissue in the breast.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Many women already receive the notification because <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/densebreast-info.org\/legislative-information\/state-legislation-map\/\" data-ylk=\"slk:38 states;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">38 states<\/a> have breast density reporting laws, according to DenseBreast-info.org, a nonprofit dedicated to the topic. That&#8217;s thanks to grassroots efforts by patients who felt blindsided because they weren\u2019t told their mammograms could be more difficult to interpret due to their dense breasts.<\/p>\n<p>A 2023 study found most women may be unaware having dense breasts increases their risk of developing breast cancer.<\/p>\n<p>The research, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2800705?\" data-ylk=\"slk:published in the journal JAMA Network Open;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">published in the journal JAMA Network Open<\/a>, looked at surveys and interviews with more than 2,300 women.<\/p>\n<p>The study found that women believe a family history is the strongest risk factor for breast cancer, and few participants knew that having dense breasts increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Dense breasts increase one&#8217;s risk of breast cancer by one to four times, according to the study; a close family member with breast cancer increases risk by about three times, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.org\/cancer\/breast-cancer\/risk-and-prevention\/breast-cancer-risk-factors-you-cannot-change.html\" data-ylk=\"slk:according to the American Cancer Society;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">according to the American Cancer Society<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many women surveyed also said they didn&#8217;t think they could <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/video\/how-to-identify-your-breast-cancer-risk-and-steps-to-reduce-it-149750853786\" data-ylk=\"slk:reduce their risk of developing breast cancer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">reduce their risk of developing breast cancer<\/a>, leading the researchers to conclude that &#8220;comprehensive education about breast cancer risks and prevention strategies is needed,&#8221; they wrote in the study.<\/p>\n<p>What does it mean if a patient has dense breasts?<\/p>\n<p>TODAY.com asked Dr. Deanna Attai, past president of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and an associate clinical professor of surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California Los Angeles; and Dr. Dana Smetherman, past chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission and chair of radiology at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_does_it_mean_if_a_woman_has_dense_breasts\"><\/span>What does it mean if a woman has dense breasts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It has to do with the proportion of fatty tissue, glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue in the breast. The more fibro-glandular tissue a woman has, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cancer.gov\/types\/breast\/breast-changes\/dense-breasts\" data-ylk=\"slk:the denser the breast;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">the denser the breast<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Age is the biggest factor: Younger women naturally tend to have denser breast tissue. As estrogen levels drop with menopause, much of that glandular tissue gets replaced by fatty tissue.<\/p>\n<p>Thinner women often have dense breast tissue. For others, it\u2019s hereditary or just how they\u2019re born. More than half of women over 40 in the U.S. have dense breasts, which is a risk factor for developing <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/breast-cancer\" data-ylk=\"slk:breast cancer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">breast cancer<\/a>, the FDA noted.<\/p>\n<p>Having dense breasts is not something a person can see or feel \u2014 it\u2019s different from having a lumpy breast, Attai says \u2014 rather, it\u2019s determined by a mammogram.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_dense_breasts_affect_mammogram_readings\"><\/span>How do dense breasts affect mammogram readings?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/do-you-have-dense-breasts-you-may-need-more-mammogram-t104102\" data-ylk=\"slk:Dense tissue;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">Dense tissue<\/a> shows up as white on X-rays \u2014 think of how bones stand out in those images.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I as a breast imaging radiologist describe a patient as having dense breasts, what I mean is that her mammogram looks white to me,\u201d Smetherman says. \u201cCancers will also look white, so looking for something white on a background of white is more difficult to identify.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fatty tissue, on the other hand, looks gray on a mammogram, so a tumor stands out.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Should_women_with_dense_breasts_still_have_a_mammogram\"><\/span>Should women with dense breasts still have a mammogram?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Absolutely, both experts emphasize. \u201cThat\u2019s a very, very important message,\u201d Smetherman notes. Women will still benefit from mammography, which is the only FDA-<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roved screening tool for breast cancer.<\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/series\/how-often-should-you\/how-often-should-you-get-mammogram-its-complicated-t47351\" data-ylk=\"slk:Mammograms;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">Mammograms<\/a> are sometimes the only way to detect calcifications, which are associated with early stages of breast cancer in some cases, Attai says.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_next_steps_for_women_with_dense_breasts\"><\/span>What are the next steps for women with dense breasts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>A 3D mammogram can improve the cancer detection rate, Attai said. It\u2019s not always covered by insurance.<\/p>\n<p>Supplemental screening, such as a breast ultrasound or a breast MRI, is definitely recommended, Azar said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The problem is that there&#8217;s no FDA regulation right now that requires insurance companies to pay for that supplemental screening,&#8221; she noted. &#8220;The fact that it&#8217;s not necessarily going to be covered is sort of the next battle. &#8230; It&#8217;s a big missing piece.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Supplemental screenings may also find more suspicious spots \u2014 which may lead to biopsies and other invasive procedures \u2014 but there hasn\u2019t been much data to show they improve survival.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe harder we look, the more we\u2019re going to find. Not everything we find needs to be found. With all of these tests, there are false alarms, false positives,\u201d Attai says. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of nuance to this \u2014 it\u2019s not quite black and white.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s one reason why we have to be very cautious before you say, \u2018Yes, everybody with dense breasts should have this additional thing\u2019,\u201d Smetherman adds.<\/p>\n<p>Right now, women who have dense breasts and who are considered to have a high lifetime risk of developing <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/3-lifestyle-changes-make-right-now-reduce-your-risk-breast-t103541\" data-ylk=\"slk:breast cancer;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">breast cancer<\/a> \u2014 perhaps because of family history or other factors \u2014 get a routine annual MRI, Attai says.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_the_FDA_rule_mean_insurance_will_cover_the_cost_of_additional_screening_for_women_with_dense_breasts\"><\/span>Does the FDA rule mean insurance will cover the cost of additional screening for women with dense breasts?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>No, at least not yet. The change will \u201cenhance the communication of important clinical information\u201d between patients, doctors and mammogram centers, but the FDA doesn\u2019t regulate insurance coverage, said Megan McSeveney, a spokeswoman for the agency.<\/p>\n<p>Some states require insurance to cover supplemental screening beyond mammography, according to DenseBreast-info.org. The majority don&#8217;t.<\/p>\n<p>The typical out-of-pocket cost for a breast screening ultrasound is about $250, according to the Brem Foundation to Defeat Breast Cancer. The average cost of an MRI is about $1,084, it noted.<\/p>\n<p>When Attai recommends supplemental screening for women who have a high risk of developing breast cancer, she usually has no problems getting their insurance to cover those tests. For all other women, it\u2019s all across the board. The FDA rule could be a first step in changing that, she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to take a lot to change insurance companies,\u201d Attai noted. \u201c(But) coming from a federal level, that may &#8230; help influence insurance companies to cover supplemental screening or at least 3D mammography.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This article was originally published on <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.today.com\/health\/what-are-dense-breasts-fda-wants-women-know-about-breast-t151225\" data-ylk=\"slk:TODAY.com;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link rapid-noclick-resp\">TODAY.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more News articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aol.com\/news\/dense-breasts-katie-couric-had-152000839.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All women who undergo breast cancer screening with a mammogram in the U.S. must now find out if they have dense breasts \u2014 a risk factor for developing breast cancer. Starting Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, all mammogram facilities across the country will be required to notify patients about the density of their breasts as part&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":635274,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/OzMVNcajS5dAkgGVvv4VoQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD02MDA-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/aol_the_today_show_594\/61d5aef8e3673fe9eb990e9438fd9373","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70897],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-635273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635273\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/635274"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}