Aside from common risk factors such as family history and age factors, researchers have discovered that breast density is the biggest indicator of breast cancer risk. Dense breasts have higher non-fatty tissue compared to fatty tissue. Genetically, breast density is also inherited.
According to Reuters, a woman that has dense breast has a higher breast cancer as compared to the woman that has non-dense breast. The detection is hard as revealed by Dr. Natalie Engmann from the University of California, San Francisco. The mammogram detection of the tumor is hard as 60 percent of young women has dense breast while 40 percent of the women's population has already done in their menopausal stage.
The finding of the study suggests that breast density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. This risk factor may decrease the morbidity and mortality of breast cancer by reducing the number of women with dense breast. The researchers also considered other risk factors such as women's weight, disease family history, genetic relationship, giving birth to a baby after reaching 30 years old, and lastly, breast density.
According to Global News, 200 thousand women between ages of 40 and 74 were assessed. From the number of women assessed, almost 18,400 had breast cancers in diverse stages while 184,000 did not. The researchers were able to consider breast density as a strong correlation in the risk of breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
On the other hand, there is no available way to reduce breast density among women. A drug known as tamoxifen potentially reduces neoplasm and breast density, however, serious adverse effects are correlated with the drug. Gaining weight may lower breast density but obesity is again a risk of breast cancer. In all cases of cancer, most of the treatment is regarded as risk above benefit as such extensive research before undergoing chemotherapeutic sessions should be considered.
