No. Having “lumpy” or fibrocystic breasts is different than having dense breasts, but some women have both.
Normal breast tissue can feel lumpy whether it is fatty or dense. Cysts are common and noncancerous and sometimes are large enough to be noticed as a lump. Having dense breasts has nothing to do with the way your breasts look or feel. The doctor who reviews your mammogram determines whether you have dense breasts after looking closely at images from your mammogram.
Learn More:
- 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
- Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
- Patient Risk Checklist (print)
- Patient Questions and Answers