• Dense breasts can hide cancers on a mammogram and also increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Almost half of women have dense breasts.  Learn about five important facts to know.
• If you have dense breasts, find out whether they are “heterogeneously dense” or “extremely dense.”  Check your patient portal, or ask your mammography center or healthcare professional. 

• If available, get a 3D mammogram (also called digital breast tomosynthesis) instead of a 2D mammogram.
• Find out your personal risk of breast cancer. Use a free risk-assessment tool, such as the IBIS Risk Calculator. If your lifetime risk of breast cancer is 20% or greater, you are “high risk.”
• Talk to your health professional about additional screening tests based on your age, breast density, and personal risk (see table below).

• For a prescription, if you want to have additional screening tests such as breast MRI after a mammogram. (Check with your insurance plan to learn if/how much they will cover.) 
• Whether your breast density and other risk factors mean you should be seen in a high-risk screening program or consider genetic testing. 
• What breast symptoms or changes should cause you to call before your next mammogram.

Your Guide to Ask for Additional Screening Tests