A survey conducted by Bayer of 500 U.S. women with dense breasts has found that many of them weren't aware of the impact of breast density on breast cancer risk and the fact that they may need supplemental imaging.
Of the 500 women, 30% didn't feel informed about how breast density affects breast cancer risk or their long-term breast cancer screening needs, according to the company. Also, when informed about their breast density, 24% said they were worried and 26% said they were unsure of what to do next.
The study also found the following:
- 57% of the women did not receive any resources when told about their breast density
- 36% were told that no action is necessary until their next annual exam
- 26% were told they should seek additional screening
- 53% were notified of their breast density during a face-to-face conversation with a healthcare provider
- 24% were notified from a source other than their healthcare provider's office, such as a radiology facility
"Because diagnosing breast cancer early is one of the most important strategies to saving patients' lives, we want to encourage women with dense breasts to educate themselves and talk to their healthcare providers about supplemental imaging, such as a breast MRI, that can be more effective in identifying cancers early," said Bayer Radiology Head of U.S. Medical Affairs Dr. Pamela Habib in a statement.
