Hidden risk factor that makes women six times more likely to get breast cancer and which it's routine to warn about in the US. So why aren't YOU being told about it?

Hidden risk factor that makes women six times more likely to get breast cancer and which it's routine to warn about in the US. So why aren't YOU being told about it? By Meike Leonard Published: 21:14 EDT, 21 September 2024 | Updated: 21:32 EDT, 21 September 2024 e-mail View comments It is a 'hidden' risk factor that can increase a woman's chances of developing breast cancer six-fold. It cannot be seen, or felt.

It has little relationship with breast size or weight. And it fluctuates throughout her life. And, although doctors know all about it, and it affects up to half of all women, we are not routinely told about it.

Well, not in the UK. As of this month, all women in the US having a mammogram – the type of X-ray used in breast cancer screening – will be informed about this specific risk: dense breasts. Breast density refers to the ratio of fat to glandular and ­connective tissue – the less fat, the denser the breast.

The denser the breast, the greater the cancer risk. The American initiative came after sustained campaigning from patients who insist it is vital in helping women understand the overall risk that they might develop breast cancer – a disease that hits one in eight. With the knowledge, women with dense breasts will be able to take steps known to reduce their risk, such as maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol intake.

It may also mean they're offered more regular or different types of scans, helping to catch cancer if it develops at the earlie.