Big changes are coming to mammogram results – and it could help with breast cancer screening.
The US Food and Drug Administration said that starting Tuesday, September 10, people will receive breast density results as part of their mammogram screening.
Thanks to the Law on Mammography Quality Standards, people undergoing mammography will receive more information, which could put patients at risk in detecting breast cancer. The FDA will require facilities to inform their patients about their breast density and what their level of breast density may mean in terms of breast cancer risk.
Dense breasts are common in women over 40, according to the National Cancer Institute. They could make it difficult to detect breast cancer on a mammogram, hiding possible lumps and tumors from detection. Dense breasts may also “increase the risk of developing cancer,” notes the FDA.
Stock photo of a doctor’s office.
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Women should now be screened for breast cancer at age 40, a US task force says
During the examination, breast density will be classified into the following categories: “Breasts are almost completely fat”; “There are scattered areas of fibroglandular density”; “Breasts are heterogeneously dense, which can hide small masses”; and “Breasts are extremely dense, which reduces the sensitivity of mammography.”
dr. Elizabeth Comen, a breast cancer oncologist at NYU Langone Health, told CBS News that breast density cannot be determined by self-examination.
“It’s not something you can see, feel or touch,” Comen said. “That’s something the radiologist will tell you based on what they see on the mammogram.”
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Although the FDA has yet to determine the next steps after screening for breast density, it is recommended that patients talk with their providers about their own risk and next steps.
In April, new guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended that women start getting mammograms at age 40 to detect breast cancer.
Previous guidelines from 2016 suggested waiting until age 50 unless you have a family history — in which case you should start between ages 40 and 49.
The American Cancer Society also recommends getting an MRI along with a mammogram if you are at high risk for breast cancer.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education