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Breast Cancer/Dense Breasts and Cancer Risk

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Expert: - 10/3/2006


Question
I'm curious about the recent studies that came out saying that women with dense breasts have approximately a four fold greater risk of developing breast cancer. But I also read that 2/3 of pre-menapausal women have dense breasts.

I thought that the risk factor was due to the difficulty in getting a good mammography from dense breasts. Does the new study mean that the actual density of the tissue is more susceptible to developing cancer?

I have bilateral dense breasts (first mammogram at 40, going for my second in a month (i'm now 41) and I am alarmed.

Answer
In some studies there is a - somewhat - increased risk of breast cancer in such breasts. The increase is however small compared to other factors like family history, no or few children, older age at first pregnancy etc. Yes you are right dense breasts ARE harder to examine and with only x-ray mammograms there is a risk that a cancer can be missed. You should have your x-ray mammograms complemented with breast MRI scans and ultrasound scans! Then this will be less of a problem!

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

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