Density Matters: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In January of 2023, I was walking off the tennis court when my breast biopsy results popped onto my phone screen.
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma.
I didn't yet know this was the start of the WAITING, an 11 hour surgery and three months of chemo. But, I could feel my life was about to take a big detour.
💜October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it also marks two years since I finished chemotherapy. I still have three more years of selective estrogen receptor modulators (cue early menopause, which is no picnic), but I am on the mend. I like to joke that my hair is my barometer of healing. As it grows and gets more expansive, so do I.
My PSA: Find Out Your Density
This one is for you, or for anyone in your life who might have "dense" breasts. And it's more common than you'd think. About 40 to 50% of women who are eligible for screening have dense breasts.
First, the reassuring part: dense breasts are completely normal. It simply means you have more glandular and fibrous tissue, which can make a mammogram harder to read. Density is also linked to a higher risk of breast cancer, which is exactly why it's worth knowing.
If you're over 40, your first step is simply to find out your density category. It's graded A through D. If you're a C or a D, a mammogram alone may not give the full picture, so it's worth asking whether some extra screening makes sense for you.
Here in Ontario, you may have to ask for it. The provincial screening program doesn't send participants a copy of their mammogram report, so ask your doctor.
Caught on an MRI, Not a Mammogram
I was part of a high risk screening program, and my cancer was caught on my annual MRI. Not my mammogram.
If you're a D, the Canadian Society of Breast Imaging recommends adding a second screening test. MRI is their first choice, with contrast-enhanced mammography or ultrasound as other options. If you're a C, it's worth a real conversation with your doctor about whether extra screening makes sense for you.
In Ontario, this extra screening isn't part of the provincial program yet. But women with a D can ask their family doctor for a referral outside of it.
Know Your Body
No matter how much you trust your healthcare team, nobody knows your body like you do. Trust your gut and advocate for the care you need.
Catching my cancer early made all the difference. It meant a tough diagnosis I could recover from, and I'm so grateful for that. Knowing your density is one simple question that could make a huge difference.
💜 If this landed for you, please pass it along to a woman you love.💜
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