There is growing concern that Irish women are not aware of the significance of breast density in the diagnosis and prevention of breast cancer.
About 50% of all women have Dense Breasts. Almost 8% of women aged between 40-74 years have extremely dense breasts. It is estimated that women with extremely high breast density have a four-to-six-fold increased risk of breast cancer compared to women with very low density.
“Breast cancer is more likely to develop in women with dense breast tissue, but not many women know if they have dense breast tissue. Currently women in Ireland are NOT routinely told about their breast density.
We at Being Dense ask WHY IS THAT? Why are women not made aware of this risk factor?
Professor Wendy Ingman Associate Professor and breast biologist-University of Adelaide tell us
Breast Density is assessed and measured by a radiologist while performing a woman’s mammogram. It cannot be determined by touch or feel and it has nothing to do with breast size or shape. A woman has no way of knowing if she has Dense Breasts unless she is told in her mammogram report.
http://www.beingdense.com proposes that women with dense breasts should be told so in the future they will be able to make informed decisions about how to manage their breast cancer risk.
The Irish Cancer Society has a wonderful collaberative network of researchers with whom we, as patient advocates, hope to engage on this.
You are not dense, but are your breasts? #BeDenseAware
info@beingdense.com
More information on risks associated to Dense Breasts and the research that has been developing on this, specifically in Australia can be found at: INFORMD.org.au
BeingDense would like to express our thanks to Professor Wendy Ingman
Being Dense 