Dense Breast Tissue Care Program Launched

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – The University of Kansas Health System has launched a specialized dense breast care program coinciding with breast cancer awareness month in October.

The program helps women who have dense breast tissue understand their risk for breast cancer, what it means to have dense breast tissue, and what their screening and follow-up care should look like. In addition to providing patient education, a breast care specialist may perform a clinical breast exam and provide orders for supplemental screening exams if needed.

Dense breast tissue is not abnormal, it is very common. Nearly half of women who undergo screening mammography have dense breast tissue.

Breast density reflects the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue in a woman’s breasts compared with the amount of fatty tissue, as seen on a mammogram. Breast density is a mammographic finding determined by a radiologist. There are 2 significant health-related concerns for women who have dense breasts.

• Women with dense breasts have a 2x-6x higher risk of breast cancer compared to women without dense breast tissue.
• Breast cancer is more difficult to detect on a mammogram if a woman has dense breast tissue.

Women with dense breast tissue may benefit from additional supplemental breast screening exams, such as screening breast ultrasound or breast MRI.

Breast care specialists at the health system have long recognized the need for a comprehensive visit with a breast expert to educate women on what it means to have dense breast tissue. Breast care specialists understand the importance of breast density and work to ensure women have access to a provider who can answer important questions and provide additional screening exams.

The health system offers screening ultrasound to all women with dense breast tissue as well as a newer exam called abbreviated breast MRI. Abbreviated breast MRI is a short exam, lasting less than 10 minutes, and more affordable than traditional breast MRI. This makes it more accessible to women who may benefit.