Breasts are made up of different types of tissue – fibrous, glandular, and fatty. Some women have a higher proportion of fibrous and glandular tissue in their breasts. This makes the breasts denser.

The only way you can tell if you have dense breasts is from a mammogram. Around half of women in their 40s have either dense or very dense breasts. It’s slightly less common in older women and after the menopause.

There are four categories of breast density:

A Fatty                B Heterogeneously dense         

C Scattered        D Extremely dense    

Categories C and D are the most dense breasts.

Breast MRI for dense breasts is an excellent screening tool to look for cancers that are not causing any symptoms. When a person has a new breast symptom, such as a lump, pain, nipple discharge, or skin changes, the clinical question changes from "Is there a hidden cancer anywhere in the breasts?" to "What is causing this specific symptom?"

For those with a breast concern, mammography and ultrasound are usually the most appropriate first tests because they can assess the area of concern directly, distinguish cysts from solid lumps, and allow an immediate image-guided biopsy if needed.

 For this reason, breast MRI for dense breasts is recommended only for screening women without breast symptoms, not for investigating a new breast problem. If you have a breast concern, we provide rapid access to a consultant breast surgeon and radiologist and complete diagnostic tests and scans including mammogram and ultrasound at our one stop breast clinics. 

Dense breasts are when you have a more fibrous and glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. It’s not known what causes this.

BI-RADS stands for the Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System

You won’t be able to tell if you have dense breasts just by feeling them. The size of your breasts also doesn’t mean you have dense breasts. The only way you can know is from having a mammogram and your breast density should be written in your mammogram report.

Rapid MRI scans aren’t offered as standard screening tests through the NHS or elsewhere and are usually only available if you have a very high risk of breast cancer.

A rapid MRI can give you peace of mind if the scan is clear. If we do detect breast cancer, finding the cancer early is important so that you can get the treatment you need as soon as possible.

If you have dense breasts and are worried about breast cancer, you can book a rapid MRI scan at GenesisCare without the need for a referral if you:

• Have had a mammogram within the last 6 months (if you haven't already had one, private mammogram screening appointments are also available at GenesisCare)
• Are aged 40 years or over
• Have been told you have heterogeneously dense or extremely dense breasts
• Have no symptoms of breast cancer
• Are not pregnant or breast feeding

If you have dense breasts, you can choose to have a rapid MRI scan every two years.

We understand that waiting for scan results can be an anxious time. Your scan will be read by two of our expert Radiologists and your results will be shared with you within seven working days.

If your scan is normal, we’ll send a letter to you and your GP to confirm the results. You don’t need to do anything else but continue to check your breasts regularly and go to your NHS mammograms when you’re invited.

If your scan shows anything of concern, we’ll call you to discuss your results and discuss your options. This doesn’t always mean you have breast cancer, but if further tests are required, additional costs may apply.

• If you have private medical insurance or are self-funding, we can arrange an appointment for you at at one of our one-stop breast clinics to have a biopsy or any other necessary tests. We’ll send your GP a letter to keep them informed.
• If you choose to use the NHS breast service, we’ll write to your GP to inform that you need to be recalled and have chosen to go back into the NHS for this and will follow up with your GP to ensure receipt of this letter.