My Story
I have dense breasts. I found this out 11 years ago. I had a lump in my right breast (in the same location as my current cancer – coincidence??). I had an ultrasound and needle biopsy which was benign. It was at that time that I was told I have dense breasts. Therefore, I was to go for mammograms annually, which I did religiously until last year (more on that later). Occasionally, I would get called back for a follow up ultrasound – which was always clear. My Doctor stressed that there was no increased risk of breast cancer with dense breasts. The risk is that if there is a cancer it is often difficult to spot in the early stages in a mammogram (picture finding a small snow ball in a snow storm). WRONG!!
Fast forward to 2017 – the process has changed. No longer does my doctor order the mammogram through the hospital or breast health center. Instead I get a reminder letter in the mail to book the appointment. Well…(and here is where the excuses begin – still beating myself up about this, but trying to forgive myself – I was not well enough informed). I was very busy with a demanding job, related travel and other personal matters. That reminder was in that stack of mail/to-do’s for a long time… a very long time. Yes, very irresponsible of me! But, I said to myself “there is no increased risk of cancer according to my doctor, I have been clear for 10 years, I have nursed 4 children (which is supposed to protect me), I am fit, healthy body weight and eat reasonably well, a few months won’t matter!” A few months turned into 12 months. Why did I finally book it? First, my son saw the 3rd notice and lectured me. Then, later that same week of September 2018, on my way home from the Ottawa Hospital Presidents Breakfast, where I had just heard amazing stories of cancer survivorship, I heard a brief feature on CBC about Dense Breasts talking about an upcoming story on White Coat, Black Art (see link at the end of this page). It was one of the founders of Dense Breast Canada telling her cancer story and educating about the increased risk of cancer associated with dense breasts. I booked my mammogram that day (yes – an angel was sending me a message that day. Even though my appointment was almost 3 months into the future). It was through that CBC feature that I learned there is an increased cancer risk and that scared me to get that appointment booked.
What are Dense Breasts?
Every woman has fat, glands and fibrous tissue in her breasts, but the proportions vary woman to woman. Breasts that have more than 50% glands and fibrous tissue are called dense breasts.
Dense breasts are common. For women aged 40-74 years, 43% have dense breasts. Breasts usually become less dense and more fatty with age
1. Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of developing breast cancer: Dense breasts are an independent risk factor for cancer. Women with the densest breasts are 4-6 times more likely to get cancer than women with fatty breasts. The higher the density, the higher the risk of cancer. Studies show that having dense breasts is an even more significant risk factor than having a family history of breast cancer.
2. Mammograms are very important but they are NOT enough for women with dense breasts. Mammography can miss up to 50% of the breast cancers in the highest category of density. Women with dense breasts can benefit from additional screening. The use of ultrasound, in addition to mammography, can decrease the number of missed or delayed cancer diagnoses
Source: Dense Breast Canada site: http://www.densebreastscanada.ca
Why is it important?
Knowing your breast density can save your life.
Joan Lunden was diagnosed with TNBC in 2014 and has also become an advocate for better protocols for women with dense breasts: https://www.curetoday.com/publications/cure/2015/winter2015/a-two-way-street-joan-lunden-shares-her-cancer-experience
What you can do?
- Visit the Dense Breasts Canada (DBC) website and sign the petition
https://www.change.org/p/notify-canadian-women-of-their-breast-density-and-associated-breast-cancer-riskSpread the word! Tell every women you know to make sure they know their breast density
If you are a podcast lover White Coat, Black Art has a good feature on this issue:
You can also find the link here:
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/white-coat-black-art/episode/15597456
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