What is the Importance of Density as a Factor for Breast Cancer?

Women who don't know their breast density should ask their doctors about it.

According to Falguni Patel, D.O., a board certified radiologist and dedicated breast imaging physician with The Tyanna O'Brien Center for Women's Imaging at Mercy in Baltimore, everyone has a different breast density, and it has nothing to do with the size of one's breasts.

There's about a 5 percent higher risk of getting breast cancer for those with dense breasts, Dr. Patel explained. Women who get a mammogram will also learn their breast density on the report.

"There are other factors that come into play with breast density, including weight; hormonal status, if you're pregnant or lactating; or if you are on hormone replacement therapy as a postmenopausal patient," Dr. Patel said.

Fatty breast tissue usually shows up dark on a mammogram, while dense breasts show up white. That can make it harder to find hidden or small cancer, and fatty breasts are less common among women.

Dr. Patel added that genetics have nothing to do with breast density. For those who have a first-degree relative, like a mother or sister, who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 40, the recommendation is to start screening 10 years before the age of diagnosis of that relative.

View Mercy radiologist Dr. Falguni Patel's interview regarding dense breasts and breast cancer risk.