Discussing breast density after mammograms may cause unneeded anxiety, study finds | Breast cancer
Telling women whether they have dense breasts as part of their breast cancer screening results can leave them feeling unnecessarily anxious and confusing, a study has found.
Breast density refers to the level of glandular and fibrous tissue in the breasts relative to the fatty tissue. Dense breast tissue is a risk factor for breast cancer and can also make mammograms difficult to read.
Those undergoing breast screening in Australia have already been told their breast density, and in the UK the measure is being considered by the National Screening Committee (NSC).
to workThe study, conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney and published in the BMJ, examined data from 2,401 women who were screened for breast cancer in Australia between September 2023 and July 2024 and were classified as having dense breasts.
The researchers then randomized the women into a control group in which they were not told their breast density, a group in which they were told their breast density and given written information about its consequences, and a final group in which they were told their breast density and given a link to an online video containing the information.
Eight weeks later, the women were surveyed about their psychological reaction to the results and whether they intended to speak to their GP or undergo additional screening.
According to the analysis, women who were told about the density of their breasts were more likely than controls to feel anxious and confused about what to do after these results.
In both groups informed about their breast density, intentions to talk to their doctor about screening results were significantly higher at 22.8% and 19.4% compared to 12.9% in the control group.
The NHS breast screening program in England does not currently include assessment or recording of breast density in screening mammograms.
Cancer Research UK health information manager Sophie Brooks said having dense breasts could make it harder to detect cancer on a mammogram, but it wasn’t something people could control or change on their own.
He added: “This study suggests that informing women about their breast density has mixed results. Women who were told were more likely to seek advice from their GP, but were also more likely to feel anxious and confused, underlining the need for clear information and support. More research is needed to investigate whether informing women about their breast density can have a positive impact, and the UK National Screening Committee is currently investigating this issue.”
Overall, the study concluded that “women who were informed about their dense breasts felt anxious and confused, did not feel more informed about making decisions about their breast health, and wanted to be guided by their GP.”
Melanie Sturtevant, deputy director of policy, evidence and influence at Breast Cancer Now, said: “Knowing their personal risk of breast cancer can enable people to make informed decisions about their own breast health. But studies like this are really important to understand the impact of informing people about personal risk factors such as breast density, including on a person’s mental health. “The findings highlight that learning these are higher risk leads to many women feeling more anxious and confused and more likely to contact their GP for more information.
“Currently routine screening in the UK does not include recording information about breast density and a review is ongoing into whether additional screening should be offered to women with dense breasts. While we appreciate the need for a robust, evidence-based process, we would like the UK National Screening Committee (UKNSC) to undertake this with more urgency and transparency.”
