PERKY Breasts!! Now that I have your attention...

While PERKY BREASTS may be cosmetically desired or coveted, dense breasts may actually have their issues. At least in terms of breast cancer screening accuracy. Unfortunately many women, as well as physicians, forget to consider the density of the breasts after routine mammography.



The Latest Mammogram Controversy: Density
Excerpt: WSJ Health Journal Aug 6, 2012 (M. Beck)

Studies show that having dense breasts raises the risk of developing breast cancer fourfold to sixfold. "It's a greater risk factor than having a mother or sister with the disease," but few women know this, says Deborah J. Rhodes, a preventive medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. "Most of the physicians ordering these tests are also in the dark about this and the implications for women," she says.

Ultrasounds and MRIs are much more effective at spotting breast cancer. Studies show that ultrasounds find three to four additional cancers per 1,000 women with dense breasts that mammograms miss. But those tests are usually reserved for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Using them in addition to mammograms for women with dense breast tissue could add considerably to the cost of screening.

Women's breasts are a mixture of dense tissue and fatty tissue (which is less dense), and generally become more fatty with age. Density can't be determined in a physical exam, only by imaging.

Some physicians think that women with dense breasts should have regular ultrasound screenings—or at least the option to consider it.

Experts note that women can ask about their breast density, since radiologists routinely report that information to physicians. "If women are at all concerned, after a mammogram, they can call their doctors and say, 'Listen, do I have dense breasts? Do I need anything further?' " says Carol Lee, chair of the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Commission.

So there it is. Check your breasts out. Literally.

After your next breast screening, you may want to ask if your breasts were too dense-OR PERKY- for the result. It may be a very valuable question.

ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) still recommends annual screening after the age of 40 years old.

(Taken from WSJ,Health Journal: Aug 6, 2012 M. Beck)