He breast cancer It is a disease in which altered breast cells multiply uncontrollably and form tumors that, if left untreated, can spread throughout the body. In 2022, they were diagnosed 2.3 million cases in women worldwidely registered 670,000 deaths from the disease. Breast cancer affects women of any age starting from puberty and detecting a lump in the breast is always a cause for concern for a woman. In these cases, it is recommended to perform a series of tests, including a mammogram to rule out this type of tumor.
In 2017, Leslie Ferris Yerger, 55, had a routine mammogram and breast ultrasound and both came back normal. Two months later he had an ultrasound to measure his bone density. The technician noticed an abnormality in his hip. After additional testing, Yerger was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. Mammography and ultrasound had missed the cancer because of her dense breast tissue.
“My cancer just wasn’t in those photos,” he says. “I also learned that it is not an uncommon story,” he adds.
According to the National Cancer Instituteapproximately 50% of women aged 40 or older they have dense breasts. This term refers to the ratio of fatty tissue to the denser fibrous and glandular tissues in a person’s breast.
The FDA Because of this, it began requiring that mammogram reports include information about breast density and how it can affect patient outcomes. “Dense tissue makes it difficult to detect breast cancer on a mammogram and also increases the risk of developing breast cancer,” they say in the statement.
The ruling marks a turning point in the field of breast cancer detection and treatment, but there is still no agreement on what implications these results have for screening in the United States or abroad. In the United Kingdom, the National Health Service does not include information on breast density in patient mammogram reports.
What are dense breasts?
Las mamas They are composed of three types of tissue: breast fatty tissue, fibrous connective tissue and glandular tissue. These last two known as ‘fibroglandular tissue’ are denser than fatty tissue. The ratio between fibroglandular tissue and fatty tissue determines whether the breasts are considered dense or not.
To know if you have dense breastsyou should have a mammogram. A radiologist will then examine the results and determine your level of breast density.
Symptoms of breast cancer
Most people do not experience any symptom when the cancer is in the early stage. However, when it is in an advanced phase it may present different combinations of symptoms:
- Breast nodule or thickening, often painless.
- Change in size, shape or appearance of the breast.
- Appearance of cracks and redness.
- Change in the appearance of the nipple.
- Discharge of abnormal or bloody fluid from the nipple.
It is recommended in these cases to seek medical attention, although according to the World Health Organization (WHO), most breast nodules are not cancerous.
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