The FDA has just set a new, life-saving guideline for breast screening

The FDA has released new national standards in an effort to identify breast cancer earlier in more women. The Major updates to the rules Facilities that provide mammograms are required to notify patients if they have dense breasts.

This modification is important and can make a huge difference in breast cancer detection. The FDA release states, “Dense breast tissue can make it more difficult to detect cancer on a mammogram. In addition, CDC Note that women with dense breasts are more likely to develop breast cancer. The denser the breasts, the greater the risk.

High breast density alone is not necessarily something to worry about. According to the FDA, half of all women over the age of 40 in the US have dense breast tissue. These new rules will require mammogram providers to inform women if they have dense breast tissue and recommend they consult a doctor about whether they need additional screening. These amendments should come into effect within the next 18 months.

Los Angeles diagnostic radiologist Anne Hoyt, MD, told NBC, “Sometimes in women who have breast cancers that are present, those breast cancers are not seen on mammograms because they are hidden by breast density.” Boston oncologist Harold Burstein, MD, also told the outlet that he compared reading mammograms of dense breasts to looking through frosted glass. It’s just not that clear.