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OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH | THE WORLD
Breast Density a Flag for Cancer
Breasts can be classified as dense or fatt . Nearly half of all
women over 40 have dense breasts.
Dense breasts make it harder to diagnose breast cancer
while at the same time making it more likely to develop
breast cancer.
• • •
Support Loved Ones continued from previous page
at support systems. While it can feel hurtful, remember the
real reason for any outburst is the disease. Patience is needed
at all times.
• Learn what you can about breast cancer. Research the
type of cancer your loved one has, which may make it easier
to understand what to expect. If the person is amenable, you
may consider accompanying her to appointments to hear
firsthand about the next steps in her treatment and recover .
• Maintain a positive attitude. It’s never easy knowing
someone you love is sick. They are going through their own
emotional roller coaster, and support systems can lift their
spirits by maintaining positive attitudes. Avoid wearing rosecolored
glasses, but try to remain as upbeat as possible.
• Find a support group. Professional support groups are
great resources for coping with a cancer journey. Supporting
a person with cancer takes its own unique toll, particularly
when caring for a spouse, child or mother with breast cancer.
Support groups for support networks can be helpful.
Individuals diagnosed with breast cancer may need a little
extra love and support. It’s up to caregivers and friends to
step up and provide what is needed.
WHAT IS BREAST DENSITY?
Breast density describes the relative amount of different
types of breast tissue — glandular, connective and fat — that
is seen in a mammogram. If there is a high amount of glandular
or fibrous connective tissue and low amounts of fatty
tissue, the breast is considered dense.
According to the National Cancer Institute, doctors use the
Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System to define breast
density. The American College of Radiology developed this
system to help radiologists interpret and report mammogram
findings.
There are four categories classifying breast density:
A. Almost entirely fatty breast tissue, found in about 10% of
women.
B. Scattered areas of dense glandular tissue and fibrous co -
nective tissue, found in about 40% of women.
C. Heterogeneously dense breast tissue with many areas of
glandular tissue and fibrous connective tissue, found in about
40% of women.
D. Extremely dense breast tissue, found in about 10% of
women.
Dense breasts are defined as being either C or D in the list.
WHAT CAUSES DENSE BREASTS?
Researchers are still studying what causes dense breasts
and the relationship between them and cancer. It is suspected
to be genetic, though there are some factors that might infl -
ence breast density.
Lower breast density is often associated with increasing
age, having children and using tamoxifen, an estrogen
modulator. The risk for dense breasts increases for those who
use postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy and have
a low body mass index.
RISKS OF DENSE BREASTS
There are two important factors associated with dense
breasts.
First, dense breasts indicate a higher risk for breast cancer.
Researchers are still trying to figure out wh , but some suggest
that it might be because there are more cells in a dense
breast, thus increasing the number of places where cancer
can develop.
Second, it makes cancer harder to diagnose. Both dense
tissue and breast masses/cancer show up as white on a mammogram,
so it decreases the contrast and the ability to detect
them. A person with dense breasts is more likely to be called
back for additional tests.
All of that said, a person with dense breasts has no greater
or lesser risk of dying from cancer.
WHAT SHOULD A PERSON WITH
DENSE BREASTS DO?
Some states, according to the American Cancer Society,
require radiologists to tell patients that they have dense
breasts. Many states require insurance companies to cover
supplemental imaging tests for people with dense breasts.
As of 2022, there are still ongoing clinical trials evaluating
whether people with dense breasts should get 3-D mammograms,
ultrasounds and MRIs.
Some research, according to the National Cancer Institute,
suggests that people with dense breasts should adopt
a screening strategy that includes other risk and protective
factors. People with dense breasts should discuss their risk
factors with their doctor.
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Did you know?
According to the American Cancer Society, recent research
has found that sleeping problems associated with cancer
treatment persist in almost 40 percent of cancer survivors for
up to five years after diagnosis. The 2019 study, published
in the journal Sleep Medicine, also found that one-fifth of
cancer survivors reported poor sleep quality at nine years
after diagnosis. In fact, high sleep disturbance was reported
by 51 percent of long-term cancer survivors. The researchers
studied more than 1,900 long-term cancer survivors
nine years after diagnosis, and participants had one of 10
common cancers, including cancers of the breast, prostate,
bladder, kidney, and lung. It’s especially important for cancer
survivors to recognize the potential for sleep problems after
successful treatment, as the Mayo Clinic notes that sufficient
rest is a vital component of patients’ recovery. Survivors
experiencing difficulty sleeping after successful cancer trea -
ments can discuss their issues with their physicians, who
may recommend certain sleep aides or strategies to increase
patients’ chances of getting more restful sleep.
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October 5, 2022 The WORLD page 19