Dense Breasts Hike Risk of Aggressive Cancer

Anonymous

Dense Breasts Hike Risk of Aggressive Cancer.  Finally, even though this was well known for 30 years.  See the study results and talk with your doctor.  I wish that my doctor had told me this information.  I had digital mammograms since age 35 which did not show my 2.2 cm IDC.  Knowledge is power.

virokie

I didn't have a clue what they were talking about Dense Breast.  I did always have to get biopsy's and that was a bit much for me but never understood that Dense Breast meant anything or that it was even "one of those words" you need to understand- like calcification and if they say a lot going on.  It just doesn't mean anything until it is too late.  I tell everyone watch out if they say something like Dense Breast.  They never seem to know what I am talking about but I bet if they ever hear those words that they call me.  Doing my part to keep women from having to go through this crap, I hope.

marjie

I have dense breasts.  Apparently it does make it difficult for mammos to see clear results and often and ultrasound and MRI provide better imaging.

Younger women usually have dense breast tissue as well.

Wendyspet

The tech who did my last mammogram called mine "busy breasts".  I had a 1.1 cm IDC.  I wish I had known enough to ask before this had happened.

amanda1116

Wouldn't MRI alleviate the dense breast issue pretty completelty?  It's ultra sensitive and not very specific (the drawback) but it literally can pick up anything via contrast.  A blessing and a curse...

I am also not liking the term "busy breasts" at all and I keep hearing women say this.  Busy is not medical diagnosis of benign or malignant breast disease and it just sounds so...demeaning and juvenile.  It's almost like the old days when doctor's said "Don't worry, dear" all the time. Am I the only person who finds this terminology or lack thereof kind of offensive.  And medical professionals evidently use it everyday.  On women who are scared, stressed and just an emotional mess.  It's not right at all, and it's not diagnostic even if it's true.

Amanda 

virokie

I know that kind of terminology is not only offensive but it just makes it easy to not pay to much attention to it.  Busy Breast, A Lot Going On, Dense Breast none of that sounds too worrisome. Come to find out maybe should have paid more attention.  I had no idea about the MRI but I finally kept asking "what does dense breast mean".  Finally my oncologist sent me for a MRI but I did not have a clue that that was the only way to really monitor dense breast, the medical society does not tell you or maybe it is the insurance companies.  So, what do you think the technical word for Dense Breast or Busy Breast is?

Soccermom4force

Bottom line is it is an expensive test .. Insurers HATE having to cover this! IF I had been able to have one in Dec.03 (when my extremely dense breast showed calcs on routine mammo) I might not have been diagnosed at Stage2B in Dec 04!

Gottobme

I was also told I have dense breasts and the tech was very open about why this is a problem.   She was doing the ultrasound looking for my lill solitary papilloma.  Half an hour later, she found it.  And, that was with looking at the first ultrasound report to help her. 

MRI is a very good diagnostic measure for soft tissue but I guess they would weigh up the cost of every woman with dense breasts getting one as not, being a very cost effective way of detecting otherwise hard to find cancer in dense breast tissue. 

Towny

EVERYONE.. PLEASE CHECK OUT AREYOUDENSE.ORG!!

WE ARE WORKING TO CHANGE LAWS AND GET INFORMATION OUT TO WOMEN ABOUT THEIR OWN BODIES!!!

DOCTORS ARE WITHOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT A WOMAN'S BODY!! IT IS WRONG!

PLEASE HELP US AND GET INVOLVED WE NEED YOU!!!

tamtam

Has anyone ever heard of dense breasts being a issue for a MRI ?

Moderators

See what Breastcancer.org  says about this study in Research News

Dense Breasts Hike Risk of Aggressive Cancer 

tamtam

Thank you Moderators for providing the link:)

I have read the link you provided and it talks about Mammograms, does this hold true to MRI's as well? 

Im hoping someone can tell me what these two comments mean??

1.  Images show moderate amount of background parenchymal enhancement. Sensitivity of the study is diminished?

2, Moderate amount of background parenchymal enhancement diminishing sensitivity of the the study?

Does this mean dense breast tissue? can anyone explain in laymen terms what this actually means?  I have asked on other threads and I am not sure if I am asking it the right way or not but I would really like an explanation of what it means? 

virokie

I am not sure if what I was told about MRI is the answer to your question or not and I did not read what Moderaters refered you to so I may be repeating something, forgive me if I am.

I was told that the MRI often gives people with dense breast a false read (could have been it gives everybody a false read).  My MRI showed enough stuff to give us lot's more information but it also gave us a couple of false reads that were really scary and you just don't know until you get in there.  So while it may help it may also not help, sounds like most everything during the dx stage, "they just don't know until the get in there".

Well, as I read that it really doesn't tell you anything, sorry- it's just what I was told.

Vickie

tamtam

Hi Vickie

Thanks for the information and yes I have heard the same thing  

I was just trying to figure out the meaning of those two phrases that were stated on my report and it doesnt seem that anyone can shed some light on them, I have asked a couple of times about it and Im not getting anywhere or no one seems to know the layman terms of whats typed. 

Thank you so much for trying I really appreciate it. I know everyone is here to help and they cant give medical advice, I just thought they could tell me the meaning of the terms used on the report.

I am rather frustrated over this and I dont know any other way to ask it. I have posted in a couple different sections hoping someone can decifer it but it seems fruitless.  I guess if I had a doctor I could ask what it meant but I dont, I would have to go into the emerg and ask but I find the emerg is meant for people with an emergeny and dont like to take up there time. I tried to talk to the surgeon that received my report but he didnt explain anything to me other than a couple words of "its ok"  small town doctors and years of frustrations of feeling like just a number to them with 10 seconds or less given to talk to them hasnt helped (Ontario Canada) if I could hire a new one I would but it doesnt work that way here.  I give up asking anymore, It is what it is and its not because I havent asked or tried. So much for trying to understand anything and I guess ignorance is bliss.  Sorry for the rant, I would like nothing better than to close this chapter in my life and forget about all the stress I have gone through up to this point and I wish just for once Doctors would write on a report something normal people can understand.  

Anonymous

Hi Tamtam,

I had that same phrase in my MRI report (along with a bunch of other phrases that are confusing) and I had the same thought that it's probably from the dense breast tissue. I am waiting to get a referral for an appointment with a breast surgeon. When I get the answer I will post it here for you! It's rather frustrating to see all this kind of stuff in the report and not know what it all means individually or all together.

Take care, Dagny

tamtam

Hi Dagny (GreenSea Turtle)

Ahhhh sooo someone who has heard of this on the report (Im hoping its not a bad thing) 

I have tried to search for it and you can find certain words about it but not in the phrase that's stated on the report   Its like looking for a needle in a haystack. 

It is soooo frustrating   That would be great if you could let me know because right now I feel like I'm at a standstill on what to do? If it means nothing bad then I will wait for my six month follow up and if its something bad then I will have to shake someone up for more tests? although I don't know what more they could do?  At this point I just wish they would take out every cyst I have and get rid of them.  I haven't been aggressive enough with the ding dong family doctor I had before he moved away and always went by what he said (not that he left me any choice) Then I was finally able to get a hold of all my reports and I have seen all the stuff he never talked to me about   Its very frustrating because Mammo shows one thing, Ultrasound showed a lot more like complex cysts  (freaked me out a bit) and MRI shows cysts, I just thought the MRI would be the final say and tell me I was worried for nothing and they are half right about that..... but its those two darn phrases that have left me unsettled and I cant seem to put it to rest until I find out what it means.  So I am left wondering if I should keep pushing for a Breast Specialist or leave it be and wait six months?  My only other option is to walk into the emergency department and ask for my results there and see if they will refer me to one. I find in this small town the doctors seem to like to cover each others butts so I have NO faith in the doctors from around here I trust my test results from the Ultrasound / MRI  but one said one thing the other something else Does the MRI overide the Ultrasound? Does anyone know?  

When I received my results from the one time Surgeon all he said was "its ok"  I voiced my concerns tried to ask questions, he was shaking his head no and said its ok .... arrgggg  he felt my breasts with his hands and said nope and sat down   How can a doctor tell by feel ??? I have such dense breasts how can he possibly feel all of them ? ohh and that exam took all of about a minute on both breasts.

Sorry again for the rant ..... but it seems it has left me with more questions than answers. 

Again it would be great if you could let me know the meaning on the report if you find out before I do and if happens  find out before you I will post it on here

I hope everything is ok with you ? You mentioned you have to go for a specialist app.?  

Anonymous

Hey tamtam,

I am currently trying to find a BS I am comfortable with that also takes my insurance. It's turned into quite the go around. As soon as I get in to see one I will ask the question and let you know!

Thanks for asking about me. They can't figure out why my left nipple is inverting and having sticky discharge. I've had mammo's and US every 6 months ( I have very dense breasts), biopsy (benign), ductogram (that was fun), and finally an MRI, with a follow up in MRI and US in 6 months. My tests were unconclusive as to why I'm having the left breast symptoms and my doctor wasn't comfortable just waiting for the next 6 months so off to the BS I go. Who might just tell me that I don't need surgery, or I might, which would be fine by me as long as I trust the BS. So I'm researching BS and finding out who takes my insurance. The BS the insurance wanted to send me to has a horrible reputation so there is no way I'm going to him.

No worries about the rant. Right now I could have a nice long rant about insurance companies!

Take care.

PinkShirtNow

I was told that I had dense breasts but I never really knew what that meant. I assumed that they just had to try harder to read the mammogram, not that they would miss something. I can't believe I was so uninformed.

This is my first post as a member of this club I never wanted to join.  Thank you all for being here.

Anonymous

My BS, for six years, said I had "dense breasts"...I really wasn't sure what he meant.  I went for multiple US, mammograms, 2 excisions, needle biopsies and MRI's.  Finally, for a number of reasons, I went for a second opinion.  Dense breasts cannot be ignored-they can't see much on them-and, only from my experience, even on a MRI.  I had a BMX 9 weeks ago.  In spite of all the testing I've had over the past 6 years-related to LCIS in my left breast, they found DCIS, stage 1, in my right breast.  It was an aggressive decision on my part, but my BS said, "we'd be having a very different conversation a year or two (maybe three) is you hand't made the decision you made.  So no chemo or radiation for me.  Undergoing reconstruction now.

LISAMG

Every woman should consider asking their radiologist and/or physician for their breast density measurement via mammo, given in percentages,  especially if u r high risk. The MRI is especially helpful for dense breast tissue too. With dense breasts and mammos, there is often huge difficulties with interpretations due to the "white out" effect. Dense tissue is white and tumors are often white so, how does one distinguish normal tissue from that containing a tumor?? Exactly my point,  so many tumors go undetected until they are often palpated with the end result being that of advanced and/or aggressive BC. Truly sucks. The MRI is a highly sensitive test, but with dense breasts its the best possible defensive tool available, according to much research.

mikita5

Hi Pat. I also had dense breasts.. I had calcifications for many yrs but was told it was nothing to worry about. All women get them... Then, 2 yrs ago, the calcifications had formed clusters so I went for a second mammo. Then a biopsy and diagnosed with bc.... Had a lumpectomy, then decided I wanted a bilat mx. Oncologist said no... but I went thru with it... Pathology came back with 2 more places with bc in same breast.  They never showed at all on the mammo.

Now my daughter is told she has dense breasts.... Another worry.....

survivor11

I had been having "normal" mammos for 5 years but was also told I had dense breasts. Had "normal" mammo in Nov of 10, and found lump in April 11. Even the day I had my BMX, my tumors (found a second one on US), never showed on mammo. Wish I had known to insist on an US or MRI before this. If your gut is telling you that something is not right, listen to it.

tamtam

So is it possible that an MRI can have a hard time seeing through very dense breasts just like a Mammo ?

survivor11

Not that I am aware of. MRI is the usually the finaly standard for finding breast tumors in dense breasts, but ultrasounds are also very accurate as well.

tamtam

I received a reply about my questions from a OB GYN and I wanted to share with others in case this ever shows up on there reports or is written this way :

 images show moderate amount of background parenchymal enhancement sensitivity of the study is diminished.  this is written twice on my report and that is what had me questioning things. 

The OG GYN stated  that the MRI report is stating that it cant see through everything because of Dense breasts

I am a little shocked because from all I have read about MRI's I thought that it could see through anything and would leave no room for question but it states the same thing as a Mammogram that it cannot see everything due to dense breasts.  So were does one go from here? Mammo isnt good at seeing everything and now the MRI tells me it cant see everything either?? So there are portions of my breast the MRI cant see.... what would everyone else do in this instance?

Any feedback would be great from others. 

virokie

Tamtam:

I know it is a bit scary but they look for clusters of calcification's and that is where they try to biopsy.    They are really able to find bc very early by doing that.      

Vickie 

Anonymous

I had 3 MRI's and many ultasounds over the past six years-they did not show the DCIS that was found when I had my BMX.  Is it possible that it happened after the last MRI-absolutely,  But I agree if you are concerned, you may want to push the envelope.

And Mikita, my worst worry is for my 22 yo daughter. It's one thing to go through this at 51.  I have a daughter that will worry from the moment I say it's potentially genetic. I've not done the genetic testing yet  ( I was supposed to have it done during my recovery from BMX, but I cancelled-knew I couldn't take one more thing-and need to reschedule.  I"m planning to see what the results are, and then think very carefully about the timing of telling my daughter-if it's positive.

mikita5

Pat:  I had the genetic testing done BEFORE my bilat mx.  IBRCA1 and BRCA2 both were negative!! That's one reason my oncologist tried to talk me out of having the mx. So, here I am with bc and the tests are negative. Does that mean my daughter wont' be affected?  There are too many relatives in my family with bc or those who've  already passed away with bc. It runs in our family, so regardless of what that test said, I was having the bilat mx. 

My daughter is 38 and her obgyn says she doesn't have to have mammo's until 40.. I beg to differ and my daughter is already scared, so she tells them she feels something every year so they'll do a mammo. It's sad that it has to be done like that!!  Too many young ladies under 40 with bc.....

survivor11

I so agree Mikita5. I was 39 when diagnosed and know atleast a dozen friends who were dx before age 40. It scares me to think how many of those now survivors would not be here if it hadn't been for their insisting on a Mammo early on.

Unfortunantly medicine is a business and it will take alot of screaming from us to change the policies of the insurance companies that don't want to foot the bill for early mammo's.

tamtam

Good morning

Ok I have a question and would like some input on it and I am hoping someone will jump in and give there opinions on it.

I do have very dense breasts and have had a few mammos and ultrasounds done every two years for the past 8 years now.

1. Mammo over the past couple years shows cysts in the axillary and last appointment shows this again.

2. Ultrasound has always shown cysts and now multiple complex cysts as of last test done.

3. MRI shows cysts only as reported on the last test I had.

4. Both Mammo and MRI states on reports that my breasts are very dense and both Mammo and MRI have a hard time seeing through everything. 

My questions would be :  would you leave it all alone and not worry any further until the MRI/ Ultrasound comes around in six months?   would you trust in the MRI result and forget about the Ultrasound result for the complex cysts?  I would like nothing better than to walk away and say Im fine until the six month appointment rolls around ? I would really like the opinions of all the other great ladies on this board whether they be good or bad. 

mikita5

TAMTAM: I wouldn't wait if it were me!  My mammo caught one spot of cancer for me but pathology came back after my bilat mx and there were 2 more cancer spots that they didn't even know were there!  Just my opinion. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.. I hope it's just cysts.

Kathy