The prestigious British Journal The Lancet recently published the results of a cross-sectional study (see our Cancer News section).  Thanks to this type of research, women in future generations may not have to suffer the same fate as I did.

Several points are worthy of note:

1) Breast density is an increased risk factor for breast cancer, and it's doubly troublesome because dense tissue obscures tumors that might otherwise be detectable on mammograms

2) Breast density is likely inherited.

3) Breasts are more dense earlier in life, and are at greatest risk of being affected by carcinogens.

4) MRIs are at this time the diagnostic method of choice for early detection in young women because of the decreased radiation exposure.

As a breast cancer survivor who formerly had dense breast tissue (had bi-lateral mastectomy), and with a daughter who has it, I am greatly relieved and heartened to read this.  Perhaps it will save my daughter from surgery, cancer, and chemotherapy.

Need to study further the combination of lobular cancer and breast density

The combination of breast density and lobular cancer needs to be addressed in research.  Because lobular cancer is rarely detectable until later stages, when it occurs in women with dense tissue (as it did in my case), mammography is not beneficial and in fact may lead to a false sense of security.

The more I learn about the cognitive impairments of cancer patients who have had chemotherapy, the more determined I am to strive for prevention and non-harmful methods of early detection.

You can help by circulating the links to this study in emails, posting on Twitter, and circulating  flyers at the many Breast Cancer Awareness events.