Mammography For Women With Dense Breast Tissue

If you have dense breast tissue yourself , don’t worry right away. It is not a guarantee that you will get breast cancer.

First of all, it is important to remember that these types of breasts are characterized by the presence of more fibrous tissue, a characteristic associated with a slightly higher chance of developing breast cancer.

With this article we do not want to make you think that sooner or later you will discover a tumor in one of your breasts. However, the chance is slightly higher and this chance is even higher if there is a family history of breast cancer.

It is enough to have yourself regularly examined to check the morphology and health of your breasts. We are of course talking about the prevention of breast cancer and would like to draw your attention to the fact that in the case of dense breast tissue there is a risk factor that should not be overlooked.

In this article we will give you all the necessary information.

The special properties of dense breast tissue

Let’s start by clarifying a few things first. Women who have dense breast tissue do not always have large breasts that contain a lot of fatty tissue. These properties have nothing to do with this type of breast tissue.

These are also some important factors that you should not forget:

• When you are young, your breasts have the perfect balance between adipose tissue, connective tissue and fibrous tissue.
• As you reach the menopause, your breast tissue will begin to get denser. In this case, there is more glandular and fibrous connective tissue and less fatty tissue.

• The results of a mammogram of breasts with dense tissue are more difficult to read and interpret than those of a mammogram of breasts where the tissue is less dense.

Something to check and remember

• Multiple studies, such as this one published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine , show that women who have dense breast tissue are more likely to develop breast cancer.
• We would like to emphasize again that this is only an additional risk factor. Dense breast tissue is not a guarantee of breast cancer , but a risk factor to consider.

If you have dense breast tissue yourself, it is therefore wise to ask your doctor whether it is possible to have a mammogram made annually, instead of every two or three years.

Don’t worry unnecessarily: one in four women has dense breast tissue

Breasts are made up of three types of tissue: glandular, fatty, and fibrous. In the case of dense breast tissue, there is simply more fibrous tissue than adipose tissue in proportion, more than normal.

• While statistics should indeed take this factor into account, there is another factor to consider and this factor is far more determinative: your family history.
• If none of your aunts or sisters and also your mother or grandmother have not had breast cancer, then your chance of developing breast cancer is very small because you have dense breast tissue.

However, don’t let it fail; It is wise to have a mammogram made every year. That way you will feel much more at ease.

When do you develop dense breast tissue?

As we mentioned earlier, chances are you don’t know whether you have dense breast tissue or not. Here are some risk factors that can promote the development of dense breast tissue:

• Menopause: Due to the metabolic and hormonal changes that occur in women between the ages of 50 and 55, the balance between glandular tissue, adipose tissue and fibrous tissue will be disturbed.

• A sedentary lifestyle and weight gain can also increase the risk of developing dense breast tissue.

This genetic component can determine whether there will be dense breast tissue in your breasts over time.

Tips to prevent breast cancer in dense breast tissue

If there is a family history

At the beginning of this article, we indicated that a family history of breast cancer increases the likelihood of developing breast cancer. In this case it is therefore necessary to take a number of precautions. Your doctor will always be able to tell you which strategies are best for you.

• If there is a family history, hormone replacement therapy may be the most appropriate solution once you reach menopause.

• You can not ignore the fact that you have dense breast tissue and that there is a family history of breast cancer. In this case, the chance that you yourself develop breast cancer is three times greater.

Guidelines you should follow anyway

• Avoid cigarettes.
• Avoid being overweight.
• Avoid a sedentary lifestyle – try to stay active by doing a lot of cardio.
• Avoid a diet rich in saturated fats, white flour and sugar.

• Eat a Mediterranean diet rich in fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthy fatty acids (such as olive oil).
• Make sure you get enough fluids.

3D mammography: the most reliable form of research

One of the most common problems with dense breast tissue is that dense breast tissue often prevents a regular mammogram from producing reliable results. Because the breast tissue is so dense, it becomes much more difficult to make the correct diagnosis.

Therefore, 3D tomosynthesis is one of the most effective ways to properly examine the breasts today. In this examination, the entire breast from top to bottom is shown in great detail in the same recording time. This technique is very effective and offers more certainty for both doctors and patients.