Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide, and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. According to statistics, women who have dense breast tissue are at higher risk of developing breast cancer.

This risk is due to the fact that dense breast tissue is more difficult to read on mammograms, which makes it harder to detect early-stage cancers. In this article, we will discuss the link between high tissue density and breast cancer, and what steps women can take to reduce their risk.

What is Breast Tissue Density?

Breast tissue density refers to the proportion of fat and connective tissue in the breast compared to the amount of glandular tissue. Glandular tissue is the part of the breast that produces milk.

Dense breast tissue has more glandular and connective tissue and less fatty tissue compared to less-dense breast tissue. On a mammogram, dense breast tissue appears white, which makes it harder to detect small tumors or lumps.

How is Breast Tissue Density Determined?

A mammogram is used to determine breast tissue density. During a mammogram, your breasts are compressed between two plates, and x-rays are used to take images of the breast tissue.

A radiologist then reads the images and measures the amount of glandular tissue in the breast compared to the amount of fatty tissue. Breast tissue density is usually divided into four categories:.

Almost entirely fatty
Scattered areas of fibroglandular density
Heterogeneously dense
Extremely dense

Women in the last two categories, who have heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts, have a higher risk of breast cancer.

Why Does High Tissue Density Increase Cancer Risk?

Having dense breast tissue doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop breast cancer. However, women with dense breast tissue are at higher risk of developing breast cancer than women with less-dense breast tissue.

According to research, women with extremely dense breasts may have up to a four-fold increase in breast cancer risk compared to women with less-dense breasts.

There are several reasons for this increased risk. Firstly, dense breast tissue can hide small tumors or lumps on a mammogram, which can delay diagnosis.

Secondly, dense breast tissue contains more cells that divide and grow than less-dense breast tissue, which increases the chance of mutations that can lead to cancer. Finally, dense breast tissue has more blood vessels, which provide more opportunities for cancer cells to grow and spread.

Can Breast Tissue Density be Changed?

Breast tissue density is influenced by a number of factors, including age, genetics, and hormone levels. While you can’t change your genetics or age, there are lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Reducing alcohol intake: Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. The more you drink, the higher the risk. Women who have 3 drinks a day have a 1.5 times higher risk of breast cancer compared to non-drinkers.

Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer, especially after menopause.

Exercising regularly: Exercise reduces the risk of breast cancer. Women who exercise regularly have a lower risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who don’t exercise.

Having regular mammograms: Women with dense breast tissue should have regular mammograms, which can help detect breast cancer early when it’s most treatable. Talk to your doctor about how often you should have a mammogram.

Conclusion

Breasts with high tissue density increase cancer risk. Women with dense breast tissue should be vigilant about breast cancer screening and talk to their doctors about their risk.

Reducing alcohol intake, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, and having regular mammograms can reduce the risk of breast cancer.