Breast Density Rating

No, the Birads score relates to your mammogram and any findings.  See this link for breast density infor   

http://www.halls.md/breast/density.htm

Kelley33,

 I checked my last few reports when I first heard about all this and all mine always say "heterogeneously dense tissue" and something about how this may affect the accuracy of the mamogram. None have any numerical ratings. Don't know if that is standard or not.

My left breast is very dense (for my age - 47 - plus the right one is getting lese dense and crystal clear -so I have asymmetry)  - my radiological report always says 50-74%. When you have the films taken, ask them to analyze with a number - I've found that you really need to engage with these folks and tell them what you want to know. The letter that comes to your house is useless. Mine always says my films were normal, but I am actually BIRADS 3, and reading the reports myself yield information about the densities, calcifications, et al. It's kind of "lead or be led" in this realm!

Just so you all know, I have a tissue density rating of 4 which is the highest, and mine was written on MRI report as "breast tissue is extremely dense, bilateral enhancement is severe." The MRI doctor told my surgeon on the phone "we didn't have a check box for her, she's past a 4." LOL. My surgeon called her while I was in the office with her back in Jan before I had my surgery b/c my surgeon said "I have never seen wording like this, so I want to ask her what she meant." The way the MRI doc worded it led the surgeon to believe they found cancer in both breasts and she was about to tell me the bad news when I got to my appt...and then the MRI doc called while I was there and clarified it. 

So if my surgeon, who has done this for decades and is a breast cancer/double mastectomy survivor herself, couldn't understand the MRI report on breast tissue density, don't feel bad if you don't! We all know now about this, and we can advocate for ourselves and others :-) 

Ladies- my dense breast came back to haunt me. I had a preventive BMX tues for ALH, ADH, and got the path back yesterday. IDC in the same breast but in a totally different area. 1.1 cm. I am sick. I had an MRI/mammo/ ultrasound in late Oct. excision for discharge 11/1 revealed atypical but that was all.

Thanks. I am in shock right now, but once I get the full path we'll know more.

Glad I found this topic - I looked over my paperwork and I am listed as having heterogeneously dense one year and extremely dense the next year.  I asked the breast specialist and he told me, 'you are dense, a percentage is subjective'.   Guess I must be between the two - looking at the sample photos I think that's probably it.  I don't have cancer - just hard to read (multiple cysts and dense) so they do more than the average person for me each year (I go to a dedicated breast center).

My aunt died two weeks ago from BC...she fought hard, very hard.  Hers was very aggressive.  Keep fighting. 

Besa - thank you for posting the article. Very interesting.  I have been told that I'm dense (hopefully just in my breasts) for years.  I am 55.  It was always said with a chuckle, like "oh you've got some busy breasts there".  I really didn't get it.  (Ok so maybe I am dense minded also.   It wasn't until I came to this site that I started realizing the importance of that comment.  I got a copy of my most recent MRI and it stated the glandular component occupies 80-90% of breast tissue bilaterally.  Is the glandular component what makes a breast dense?

Thanks for the new info, besa.

Fibrous tissue (stroma) is the fibrous connective tissue that supports the breast.  Glandular tissue consists of the epithelial cells that line the ducts and are involved in making milk.  In mammography fibrous tissue  and glandular tissue both show up as white areas on a mammogram (fibroglandular tissue).  Fat shows up as the dark areas on a mammogram. 

Thanks to all who posted so much good information.  I have very dense breasts and after being dx with IDC, grade 1 this week, I think I have made my decision on the surgery.  They found IDC (approx 2cm) in my right breast and another "something" that is probably b9 in my left.  So, I am thinking the BMX is the way to go even tho I am terrified.  I don't have the BRCA tests back and I still need to be staged, which I heard comes with the pathology report after surgery.

I'm trying to be positive.  One potential plus could take me to a C cup from a barely B. 

I just need to calm down and stop doing stupid stuff.  My DH caught me trying to put his glasses on.....that in itself is not so stupid, but I had my own glasses on at the time--we were on our way out to meet the surgen.  Last night I kept trying to use the phone to turn the channel on the TV and this this morning I put the pretzels in the fridge.  OMG!  I am a total loon!

Thank you for being here and for giving such good information.  Having knowledge really helps.....I'm just hoping this stupidity abates soon.

I'm a returning poster - diagnosed 5 years ago with LCIS, postmenopausal with extremely dense breasts. Am finishing up 5 years on Evista. I was having MRI and mammo until 1 1/2 years ago when my kidney doctor put an end to MRIs. At the time, I had a report of 2 questionable areas that were to be re-examined. The women's center would not perform ultrasound screening, despite prescription, as they said it wasn't covered by my insurance. HOWEVER, when I paid out of pocket $300 to have Sonocine (ultrasound) this year, they were happy to do it. Guess what? 2 areas of abnormality turned up, and I am now recommended to have bilateral biopsy. Hoping that it turns out to be just cysts, but am really PISSED that I had to pay for this. Mammo shows very little in my breasts. Went to RUDense and am trying to help get laws changed to provide information about breast density to us AND to require insurance to cover it as screening (not just diagnostic) when appropriate.