“Have dense breasts…now what?”
- EDUCATE YOURSELF: 5 Facts to Know
- DO NOT WORRY. DENSE BREASTS ARE NORMAL. On average, about 40% of women of mammography age have dense breasts. Density tends to decrease as a woman gets older.
- PRINT THE RISK CHECKLIST (see Patient Resources). Print, complete and review with your health care provider and discuss a breast screening plan right for you.
- SPEAK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER. Women with dense breasts (heterogeneously dense or extremely dense) benefit from additional screening. The addition of any type of screening after your mammogram, such as ultrasound or MRI, finds more cancers than mammography alone. Review the helpful chart: Is My Mammogram Enough? and ask your health care provider what may be right for you.
- LEARN MORE: Check out our Patient Questions and Answers.