It’s important to ask questions about the latest treatments, technologies, and breast pathologies. The more informed you are the better equipped you’ll be to make the right decisions for your health.
It’s especially important to ask questions when you have dense breast tissue.
How does dense breast tissue impact my cancer screening?
Those with dense breast tissue have a higher chance of developing breast cancer because it’s more difficult to spot cancer in dense breast tissue on a traditional mammogram.
This can be concerning for many women with dense breasts. That’s why we’ve compiled five things that are crucial for you to know:
- 3D breast ultrasounds don’t replace mammography. 3D mammography is an established technology that helps to identify cancer in those with dense breasts. But it doesn’t replace traditional mammography. It’s best that you undergo both a traditional mammogram and a 3D ultrasound for the best possible results.
- 3D breast ultrasounds aren’t painful. The traditional mammogram is known for its discomfort, but the 3D ultrasound is a painless and comfortable exam. During the test, you lie on a table and have an ultrasound scanner placed on the breast. The scanner will scan your breast in about 60 seconds. The entire exam takes less than 10 minutes.
- You can’t breast density by yourself. Breast density is determined through a mammography screening. Dense breasts have more supportive tissue than fatty tissue, which makes it difficult to spot any abnormalities on the screen. This is because supportive tissue and breast abnormalities show up on the screen as white.
- You don’t need to visit the doctor more frequently. Higher breast density means that you’re at greater risk for cancer because it’s harder to spot cancer on a traditional mammogram. This doesn’t mean that you have breast cancer. That said, how regularly you have a mammogram and 3D mammogram is up to you and your health care provider.
Consider a 3D mammography screening alongside your regular mammogram
The American Cancer Society recommends that women between the ages of 40 and 44 with an average risk of breast cancer begin annual mammography. For those with dense breasts, 3D mammography screening doesn’t replace a traditional mammogram. But it’s important to have both.
We offer 3D mammography ultrasounds and traditional breast cancer screening options so you can feel secure in your screening. To learn more about our 3D mammography screening and other screening services, contact us today.