September 30, 2026 marks the fifth World Dense Breast Day. It’s a global day focused on one goal: making sure every woman knows her breast density and what it means for her screening. At Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, we’re proud to take part again this year.
What does it mean to have dense breast tissue?
Dense breast tissue is normal and common. About half of women age 40 and older have it, and roughly 43% of the women who get routine mammograms at EWBC do. Dense breasts have more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. It’s a normal variation, not a diagnosis.
Only a mammogram can show your breast density. You can’t tell by how your breasts look or feel.
Every woman in the U.S. now receives her density result
New York has required facilities to tell women about their breast density for years. Since September 10, 2024, a federal FDA rule has required every mammography facility in the U.S. to do the same. Your mammogram results letter will say whether your breasts are “dense” or “not dense.” It will also explain that dense tissue can make cancer harder to find and that you may benefit from more screening. Your health care provider receives this information too.
Why is dense breast tissue a risk factor for breast cancer?
Dense breast tissue matters for two reasons:
- It can hide cancer. Dense tissue looks white on a mammogram, and so does cancer. That can make a tumor harder to spot, a bit like looking for a snowball in a snowstorm.
- It’s linked to higher risk. Women with dense breasts have a modestly higher chance of developing breast cancer than women with fatty breast tissue.
What can women with dense breast tissue do?
- Keep up with regular mammograms. Mammography is still the foundation of breast cancer screening. Current national guidelines recommend screening starting at age 40.
- Ask about supplemental screening. Many women with dense breasts benefit from an additional test. EWBC offers screening breast ultrasound at all seven of our locations. In our own practice, it finds about 3 cancers per 1,000 women that weren’t visible on the mammogram. For some higher-risk women, breast MRI may also be recommended.
- Know your overall risk. Talk with your doctor about your family history, personal history and other risk factors so you can build a screening plan that fits you.
- Spread the word. Share what you’ve learned about dense breasts with the women in your life.
What about insurance coverage?
New York State law requires state-regulated insurance plans to cover breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging with no cost-sharing. That includes mammograms, breast ultrasound and MRI. Insurance plans based outside New York don’t have to follow state law, so coverage can vary. Please check with your insurer. Learn more about the NYS mammography law.
At the national level, the bipartisan Find It Early Act is still pending in Congress. It would require insurance plans nationwide to cover supplemental breast imaging at no cost for women with dense breasts or a higher risk of breast cancer.
Learn more
Take the first step today. Schedule your mammogram by calling (585) 442-2190 or visiting our appointments page.
