Women's Health Wednesday: Breast Density

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) - During this breast cancer awareness month, women are encouraged to get screened for breast cancer when they reach age 40, or earlier, if there's a family history. Now, all women will receive a specific notification, following their exam, regardless of the results.

When you find out the density of your breasts, Dr. Lynn Choi, a breast cancer surgeon at Albany Medical Center, says you should then talk to your provider about your options.

"If you have dense breasts, it will lower the sensitivity of your mammogram, so in those situations it's good to add an ultrasound to it to better detect anything suspicious," says Dr. Choi.

There are four types of density classifications which are based the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, or BI-RADS. According to the American Cancer Society, they range from almost all fatty tissue to extremely dense tissue with very little fat.

Four types: (least dense to most dense)

1. Fatty is the least dense
2. Scattered areas of glandular and connective tissues, together known as “fibroglandular” tissue
3. Heterogeneously dense, breasts contain more glandular and connective tissue than fatty tissue
4. Extremely dense, breast tissue impairs the ability of mammography to detect tumors

Beginning September 10, 2024, facilities subject to the Mammography Quality Standards Act are required to notify women of their breast density qualification following their mammogram. In this week's Women's Health Wednesday, Dr. Choi goes into detail about the next steps and what is covered by insurance.