2023-06-21 04:00:47
Breast cancer is one of the most common in Mexico, occupying more than 15% of all cases.
The average age at which this tumor is diagnosed is 54 years.
When the tumor is identified at an advanced stage, the chances of cure are lower.
The importance of mammograms to identify suspicions of breast cancer is constantly mentioned. At the same time, this study offers another type of data of interest. Among them is the density of the breast tissue and there are four categories ranging from almost completely oily to extremely dense, but what does each one mean?
What is dense breast tissue?
The Dr. Rajul Mehtawho is a breast radiologist at Hospital Houston Methodist, mention what gives them their size and shape. Although there are also two other types of tissue in our breasts: glandular and fibrous.
Glandular tissue is made up of milk-producing glands (called lobules) and the ducts that carry that milk to the nipple. Fibrous tissue helps keep these structures in place.
“Both are denser than adipose tissue and together are called fibroglandular tissue. In women with dense breast tissue, there is more fibroglandular tissue than fatty tissue. And this difference can be seen on a mammogram.”
Why do some women have dense breasts and others don’t?
The answer isn’t entirely clear, but factors that make it more likely include:
• Being younger
• Have less body fat
• Taking hormone replacement therapy after menopause.
“Breast cancer develops in dense fibroglandular tissue, so the concern with having more is that there are more cells for the cancer to develop. However, having dense breast tissue alone does not make you more likely to develop cancer.”
The main risk factors for breast cancer include:
• Age. Most are found in women older than 50 years
• Family history of breast cancer, especially if someone in the immediate family was diagnosed at a young age.
• Certain genetic mutations, such as changes in the BRCA genes
Is an ultrasound always needed if you have dense breast tissue?
The main reason why it is important to know a person’s breast density is because this tissue can hide small breast masses on a mammogram.
“The denser the breast tissue, the more difficult it becomes to read a mammogram. However, it’s not impossible, and advances like 3D technology have made mammograms even more accurate.”
Can it change breast density?
Yes. In general, breast tissue becomes less dense with time and age. This means that women in their 40s and 50s who get extra ultrasounds because of breast density may only need a screening mammogram, as their breasts become less dense later in life. However, there’s an exception.
Also read:
Breast implants, do they affect the results of a mammogram?
CIMA Foundation, a pillar in supporting women with breast cancer
Breast cancer in Mexico: 4 key points for its prevention and timely detection
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