Breast density info to give women clearer picture of cancer risk
02 June 2025
Adding breast density information to mammogram results in Australia will provide women a clearer picture of their breast cancer risk and could help many to avoid this disease, says Peter Mac’s Professor Kelly-Anne Phillips.
BreastScreen Australia has released an updated Position Statement on breast density and screening, recommending for the first time that women be informed of their breast density as indicated in their mammogram. Read the new statement here.
“Breast density” is the amount of dense glandular and connective tissue in the breast which, like a cancer, appears white on a mammogram. Dense breasts are one of many risk factors for breast cancer, and it can be harder to spot an early-stage cancer in dense breasts on a mammogram.
The updated statement says women with all breast densities should continue with routine mammograms, however those with high breast density should also discuss this with their doctor and consider using an evidence-based online tool (such as Peter Mac’s iPrevent) for a more accurate risk assessment.
Professor Phillips, an expert in breast cancer prevention research and clinical practice, and co-lead of Breast Medical Oncology at Peter Mac, says the changes are welcome and bring Australia into line with international best practise.
“This will enable each woman to get a clearer picture of her own personal breast cancer risk and what she can do to reduce that risk, and to potentially prevent getting breast cancer,” Prof Phillips says.
“And while it is helpful to identify women with dense breasts, it’s important to note that breast density should not be relied on in isolation when it comes to understanding a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer.
“There are other factors - such as having a close relative diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age - that are more powerful indictors this risk.”
The iPrevent tool on Peter Mac’s website takes less than 30 minutes to complete, and it provides women a personalised report about their breast cancer risk to discuss with their GP.
“Also my message to women identified as having heightened risk is to please ask `what should I do next?` and understand that inexpensive medications are available that can halve breast cancer risk,” Prof Phillips says.
“These tablet medications, when taken for three to five years, can also reduce breast density.”
Women seeking more information about these medications can also use Peter Mac’s “PCMed (Preventing Cancer with Medications” service to talk with doctors and nurses via video call.
Breast cancer is Australia’s most common cancer in women, and this year around 21,000 new cases will be diagnosed. One in seven Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.
One in five women with breast cancer could have been identified beforehand as having increased risk, and so their cancer potentially prevented.
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Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre is a world leading cancer research, education and treatment centre and Australia’s only public health service dedicated to caring for people affected by cancer.