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Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Know Your Breast Density Craig Quilter October 30, 2025

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: A personal call to action

Professor Deborah Cunningham, the Author of this breast screening article.

“I didn’t know my breasts were dense. I didn’t know that mattered.”

Every October, we wear pink, share stories, and raise funds. But this year, let’s go deeper. Let’s talk about something many women don’t even know they have: dense breast tissue, and why it could be hiding something that could save your life.

Why breast density matters

Breast density refers to the amount of fibroglandular tissue in the breast. It’s not something you can feel, it’s only visible on a mammogram. But here’s the catch:

  • Dense breast tissue can mask cancer on a mammogram, making it harder to detect.
  • Women with the densest breasts have a four times higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to those with fatty breasts.
  • In the UK, nearly 1 in 10 women aged 50–70 have extremely dense breasts.

Yet, most women in the UK are not told their breast density after a mammogram. They simply receive a letter saying, “no abnormality detected.”

The power of knowing and acting

In the United States, the FDA now mandates that all mammogram reports include information about breast density. If your breasts are dense, your report will say so and recommend discussing additional screening with your doctor.

In Europe, the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) recommends that women with dense breasts receive supplementary imaging, like an MRI, every 2–3 years.

Why aren’t we doing this in the UK?

The BRAID trial, led by Professor Fiona Gilbert and published in The Lancet, is the largest UK study to date comparing supplemental imaging methods for women with dense breasts and a normal mammogram.

Key findings:

  • Standard mammography detected 8.4 cancers per 1,000 women.
  • Abbreviated MRI detected 17.4 cancers per 1,000.
  • Contrast-enhanced mammography detected 19.2 cancers per 1,000.
  • Automated whole breast ultrasound (ABUS) detected only 4.2 cancers per 1,000.

Not only did MRI and contrast mammography detect more cancers, but the cancers were smaller and more likely to be early-stage which means better outcomes.

What this means

If you’re a woman aged 50–70 you will be called for a free NHS mammogram:

  • Attending your mammogram reduces your lifetime risk of dying of breast cancer.
  • Ask about the density of your breasts.
  • Talk to your GP about your risk and whether additional imaging is appropriate.
  • Don’t wait for symptoms. Early detection saves lives.

The human side of screening

Behind every statistic is a woman, a mother, sister, daughter, friend who might have caught her cancer earlier if she’d had the right information. While this study and screening guidance focus on women, men can also get breast cancer. 

Awareness and early detection are vital for everyone.

This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about empowering people with knowledge and access. It’s about changing the system so that no one is left in the dark.

Fast facts

  • 1 in 7 women in the UK will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
  • Over 55,000 women are diagnosed each year.
  • Early detection increases survival rates to over 90% for stage 1 breast cancer.
  • Dense breasts are common, but you need a mammogram to know.

Take action

  • Check your last mammogram report.
  • Ask your GP about your breast density.
  • Share this information with friends and family.
  • Support organisations advocating for breast density disclosure and better screening.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, demand better and support the inclusion of breast density disclosure in NHS mammogram reports. 

Let’s make sure every woman knows her breast density and what to do about it. Because awareness is powerful. But action is life-saving.

References

Contact Information 

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