NEW YORK — According to new FDA regulationsAll mammography facilities must inform women of their level of breast density.

Until now, there has been no need to share this vital information with women, and it has the potential to save their lives.

What is breast density?

Breast density refers to the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue in a woman’s breast compared to fatty tissue. The size of a woman’s breasts doesn’t determine density, but age might: About 50 percent of women in their 40s have dense breasts, with percentages decreasing with age.

“The only way to determine it is by radiology. So… make sure you get a mammogram, then you’ll know if you have dense breasts or not,” said Lorraine Frazier, dean of the Columbia University School of Nursing. .

“If I have dense breast tissue, am I more likely to get cancer?” asked Kristine Johnson of CBS News New York.

“The answer is yes, it probably is, and we don’t know why, but there is a greater chance of getting cancer,” Frazier said.

“How important is it for a woman to know whether or not she has dense breast tissue?” » Johnson asked.

“Very important. It’s a gift. I really think these new regulations are a gift to all of us,” Frazier said.

Certain density levels will be reported under this new regulation: A, B, C and D. Women with C and D are likely candidates for additional testing.

AI and 3D screening, which are now much more common in mammograms, will also help fight hard-to-diagnose cancers, but the most important thing is getting a mammogram.

Dense breast tissue masked cancer on mammogram, says dean

“I’ve never skipped a mammogram,” Frazier said. “Every year I was told I was cancer free, and that wasn’t always the case.”

It was after a 2022 screening that Frazier received additional news: She had dense breast tissue.

“And did it cover up your cancer?” » Johnson asked.

“Yes,” Frazier said.

Even with a clear mammogram and no family history, she still felt something was wrong.

“How did you feel?” » asked Johnson.

“A thickness. A thickness in my chest,” Frazier said.

An MRI finally detected his cancer. She was told it was growing slowly and had probably been there for years.

“When you see a mammogram, if your breasts are dense, they’re all white, you know. And the problem is that breast cancer also shows up white,” Frazier said.

“So it’s camouflage?” » Johnson asked.

“Yes, it absolutely is,” Frazier said.

She was diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer – a nurse and educator becoming the patient.

“Most of the time, if you have breast cancer, you will get through to the other side.”

Frazier underwent a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation.

“What was the most difficult part of your trip?” » Johnson asked.

“Understanding that this is not the end of the road. I know that seems really strange,” Frazier said.

“Even for a healthcare professional? » Johnson said.

“Even for a medical professional. You know, you hear the word cancer and you think that’s it, right? And you see the world in a different way,” Frazier said.

“Did that change your perspective as well, just like Dean’s?” » Johnson asked.

“Yes… How can we learn to make this journey better for these patients? And that means touching someone’s hand, right? I mean, it’s nothing, but if you I’m going through chemotherapy and I touch your hand and I say, ‘Kristine, I know this is the first time for you and you know what, we’re going to get through this together,'” Frazier said.

She added: “Most of the time with breast cancer you will come out the other side. You have to hear that and you have to see that.”