Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. It is caused by the growth of abnormal cells in the breast tissue. Factors that increase the risk of breast cancer include age, family history, genetic mutations, and exposure to estrogen.

Recently, researchers have also found that breast density may be a risk factor for breast cancer.

What is Breast Density?

Breast density refers to the amount of glandular and connective tissue compared to fat in the breasts. This is determined by a mammogram, which categorizes breast density as one of four levels:.

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

Women with dense breasts have more glandular and connective tissue than fatty tissue. This can make mammograms more difficult to interpret, as cancerous and dense tissue appear white on imaging.

Studies have found that women with dense breasts are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. This is because dense tissue is more active and metabolically active than fatty tissue, which can increase the likelihood of abnormal cell growth.

In addition, dense tissue can also hide small tumors on mammograms, making it more difficult to detect early-stage breast cancer. This can lead to later diagnoses, which can require more aggressive treatment and have lower survival rates.

Who is More Likely to Have Dense Breasts?

Several factors can increase a woman’s likelihood of having dense breasts, including:.

Age: younger women are more likely to have dense breasts
Family history of breast cancer
Hormone replacement therapy
BRCA genetic mutations

However, breast density is not directly related to breast size or shape and can occur in women with both small and large breasts.

What Can Women with Dense Breasts Do?

Women with dense breasts should talk to their doctor about their individual risk for breast cancer and determine if additional screening is necessary. This may include:.

Mammography: although mammograms may not be as effective for women with dense breasts, they are still the primary screening method for breast cancer
MRI or ultrasound: these imaging tests can be used in addition to mammography for women with dense breasts and high-risk factors for breast cancer

Women with dense breasts should also maintain a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a healthy diet, to help reduce their overall risk of breast cancer.

Conclusion

Breast density is emerging as an important risk factor for breast cancer. Women with dense breasts may be at a higher risk for developing breast cancer and should talk to their doctor about additional screening options.

A healthy lifestyle can also help to lower the risk of breast cancer overall.