Breast Density Might Signal a Higher Risk for Breast Cancer

Kaiser Permanente has done an interesting research study that caught my eye. They have determined that those women diagnosed with breast cancer in one breast will have a higher risk of developing breast cancer in their other breast if the first cancer is a type of noninvasive breast cancer called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). Yikes! This study appeared in the October 2010 Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

First, a little background. Mammographic density refers to the proportion of the breast that appears dense on a mammogram--and it's now considered to be a risk factor for breast cancer. On mammography, areas of dense breast tissue look white, but unfortunately so do tumors.

What was notable to me when I reviewed this study is that the researchers found that the risk was high for both breasts. Not only was the saved breast (for which lumpectomy was performed) at a potentially higher risk for a local recurrence within it later on, but the opposite breast was also at a higher risk for a primary breast cancer.

These findings raise the question whether women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer and who have been told their breasts are dense will make a personal decision to opt for bilateral mastectomies. What decision do you think you would make?