Study finds women with dense breast tissue are more at risk for breast cancer

A new study shows that breast density is a true risk factor in Breast Cancer, yet it is rarely discussed with patients compared to other risk factors like age and the genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.

Cancer is discovered five times more often in women with extremely dense breasts than in those with the most fatty tissue.

On mammograms, dense tissue appears light, like tumors, so it can hide the cancers. But this study confirms that cancers are also more frequent -- not just hidden -- in women with dense breasts.

This study highlights the importance of breast density as a risk factor that should be discussed with patients.