BREAST BREA CANCER SCREENING FAQS
I’m younger than 40 and worried about getting breast cancer. What can I do?
You shouldn’t ignore the issue, “but it shouldn’t keep you up at night” either, says Dr. Jiyon Lee, a clinical associate professor of radiology at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center. Last month, doctors started recommending that women as young as 30 talk to their doctors about potential risk factors— including a gene mutation ( such as BRCA1 or 2), family history of cancer or dense breast tissue— and whether they require additional screening such as ultrasounds or MRIs.
Are 3- Dmammograms any better at catching breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue?
Slightly. Three- dimension-al mammograms are an improvement, Lee says, “but ultrasounds and MRIs can still help more, especially in women with really dense tissue.”
How do I know if I have densebreast tissue?
Youhave toget amammogram. In many states, including New York, doctors are required to notify women in writing that they have the condition, so they’ll know toget ultrasounds, too.
But what if I’m too young for a mammogram?
If you have risk factors, your doctor may suggest mammography. In the meantime, be vigilant about self- checking and asking your doctor to do an annual clinical check, Lee says.
I have dense breast tissue. Am I automatically a thigh risk of getting breast cancer?
No. “A significant portion of women have dense breasts. It’s one of many risk factors, but it’s certainly not going to catapult a woman with no additional risk factors into a greater- than20- percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer,” says Dr. Elizabeth Arleo, radiologist at Weill Cornell and New York- Presbyterian.
If I have dense breast tissue, will my insurance cover the supplemental screening I need?
It should. New York state enacted a law last year mandating that insurers cover supplemental screenings ( including ultrasounds and 3- Dmammography) for women with dense breast tissue. But check with your insurer first and go to DenseBreast- Info.org for information.