Iowa Radiology Blog

What is breast density?

Breast density refers the relative proportions of fat vs. fibrous and glandular tissue in the breast. Because fat is less dense than other breast tissues, breasts containing a relatively small proportion of fat are considered dense. While dense breast tissue is more common in younger women and women who are at or below a healthy weight, older women and those who carry excess fat in their bodies can also have dense breasts. The only way to know for sure is by using mammography or other breast imaging technology.

In 1993, the third Friday of each October was designated National Mammography Day in an effort to encourage women to get screening mammograms. Today, we take this opportunity to celebrate the contribution mammography has made to women’s health care. Advances in this technology and in our understanding of breast cancer has helped many women to live longer, healthier lives.

If you’re unsure when and how often you should get a mammogram, you’re not alone. Conflicting recommendations about breast cancer screenings have caused a lot of confusion about what type of screening regimen can best protect women’s health. Because each woman must ultimately make her own decision about how to protect herself from breast cancer, it’s important to have the information you need to make the right choice for your care.

There is a lot of talk about mammograms in the news lately. You’ve likely seen a variety of recommendations and opinions about whether to have mammograms and if so, when to start, how often to get them, and what kind to get. It’s always best to research a variety of sources before making decisions about your health care—particularly sources with well established reputations for reliable, evidence-based information. In this article, we’ll discuss why we make the breast cancer screening recommendations that we do.

An important advancement in women’s health care, screening mammography has come a long way since it began to gain acceptance in the 1950s. Over time, technological advances have resulted in continual improvements in image quality and lower radiation dose.^[1] From advancements in film to the advent of digital imaging, these progressive improvements have helped more women to enjoy longer, healthier lives.

Deciding to have your first mammogram is an important step in protecting yourself against breast cancer. Randomized controlled trials suggest that mammography screening reduces the odds of dying of breast cancer by 15–20% for women aged 40–74.^[1] There are a few things you can do to prepare for your mammogram to get the best health information and be as comfortable as possible during the procedure.

Mammography is the standard for breast cancer screening, but it’s not the only imaging method that doctors use to get information about breast conditions and possible cancers. In some cases, ultrasound or MRI are chosen to supplement or replace mammography as a breast imaging tool. To help you understand why your doctor may recommend a particular breast imaging procedure, here are some basic reasons that each is often used.

My doctor said my mammogram showed calcifications. Is that bad?

Calcifications are very common, especially after menopause. In fact, they appear on roughly half of mammograms of women over age 50, and they typically are not cause for concern. However, their appearance in certain patterns can sometimes be a sign of early or developing breast cancer.^[1]

You know you should be getting annual screening mammograms, but how do you choose the best breast imaging provider? One of the first steps to take in preparing for your mammogram is to research the facilities in your area. Here are six questions to ask when deciding which is the best facility for you:

If you’ve never had a mammogram, you may not know quite what to expect the first time. Don’t let fear of the unknown cause you to miss out on the important health information that mammography screening provides. While getting a mammogram may not be at the top of anyone’s list of favorite things to do, it’s a really quick and easy procedure that could help to save your life. Understanding what’s involved in a mammography visit can help alleviate any anxiety you may be feeling and make the whole experience more comfortable.