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Dense heterogenous breasts
Hi,
I am a 39 year old (turing 40 in a couple of months). My maternal grandmother died at 33 from metastasized breast cancer. Because of that family history, I chose to get my first baseline mammogram at age 35, and have gotten 2 since then. They have been normal, but on my recent mammogram report, it was noted that I have dense heterogenous breasts. After researching it a bit, I found that it is not necessarily uncommon for women under 50 to have dense heterogenous breasts, but it was suggested that women with average to high risk for breast cancer have an ultrasound once a year in addition to a normal mammogram. From what I read, mammograms rarely detect or OFTEN miss early tumors in women with dense herterogenous breasts, AND tumors are more likely to develop in dense breast tissue. . Because my family breast cancer was in my GRANDMOTHER, and not my mother or sister, I am still considered close to average risk, not high risk. If any medical professional or other woman here has any experience with this or could give advice on whether I should seek an ultrasound each year as well, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
I am a 39 year old (turing 40 in a couple of months). My maternal grandmother died at 33 from metastasized breast cancer. Because of that family history, I chose to get my first baseline mammogram at age 35, and have gotten 2 since then. They have been normal, but on my recent mammogram report, it was noted that I have dense heterogenous breasts. After researching it a bit, I found that it is not necessarily uncommon for women under 50 to have dense heterogenous breasts, but it was suggested that women with average to high risk for breast cancer have an ultrasound once a year in addition to a normal mammogram. From what I read, mammograms rarely detect or OFTEN miss early tumors in women with dense herterogenous breasts, AND tumors are more likely to develop in dense breast tissue. . Because my family breast cancer was in my GRANDMOTHER, and not my mother or sister, I am still considered close to average risk, not high risk. If any medical professional or other woman here has any experience with this or could give advice on whether I should seek an ultrasound each year as well, your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
There is a website you can check out for info on "dense breasts". The website is areyoudense.org.
Hi,
Heterogeneously dense breasts would mean that the breast tissue contains more glandular and connective tissue than fat.(about 51 - 75% ) .As you correctly stated,this is quite common.and the finding itself is not a risk factor for breast cancer.The only problem is that it .makes the mammogram difficult to interpret or to palpate a lump on breast self exam especially if a person has extreme dense breasts (greater than 75% density).
If you haven't noticed any abnormal features on breast self examination like a breast lump, nipple discharge or skin changes and your mammogram is normal,and you regularly visit your Physician,then I don't think you have a real problem there.
The Ultrasound is frequently used to evaluate a suspicious breast abnormality that is found with screening or diagnostic mammography or if you physician can palpate a lump.
Now I am not sure if in your situation,your doctor could order an Ultrasound or even a MRI (which is a very good tool to see through dense breasts tissue) ,but as one of our members once said"" The squeaky wheel always get the grease.The better the argument for it, the more the likelihood you'll get it"" Sometime we have to push a bit harder for what we feel we need.
So I hope your doctor will listen to you and order at least an Ultrasound so you can have peace of mind.
All the best....
Heterogeneously dense breasts would mean that the breast tissue contains more glandular and connective tissue than fat.(about 51 - 75% ) .As you correctly stated,this is quite common.and the finding itself is not a risk factor for breast cancer.The only problem is that it .makes the mammogram difficult to interpret or to palpate a lump on breast self exam especially if a person has extreme dense breasts (greater than 75% density).
If you haven't noticed any abnormal features on breast self examination like a breast lump, nipple discharge or skin changes and your mammogram is normal,and you regularly visit your Physician,then I don't think you have a real problem there.
The Ultrasound is frequently used to evaluate a suspicious breast abnormality that is found with screening or diagnostic mammography or if you physician can palpate a lump.
Now I am not sure if in your situation,your doctor could order an Ultrasound or even a MRI (which is a very good tool to see through dense breasts tissue) ,but as one of our members once said"" The squeaky wheel always get the grease.The better the argument for it, the more the likelihood you'll get it"" Sometime we have to push a bit harder for what we feel we need.
So I hope your doctor will listen to you and order at least an Ultrasound so you can have peace of mind.
All the best....
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