Imagine a 57-year-old woman, let’s call her Maria, who’s just opened a letter about her mammography results. She’s had several mammograms before, but this time reads new information: “Your breasts are dense”.

While the letter assures her that dense breasts are common, it also indicates it could make it harder to see breast cancer on the mammogram.

Maria is confused about what to do next and wonders if she should be worried. Does she need to see her GP?

Maria may be fictional but she reflects the findings from the first trial of its kind we publish today.

We show women notified they have dense breasts alongside their mammogram result are more confused and anxious, do not feel more informed, and have greater intentions to see their GP for advice.

Dense breast tissue appears white on a mammogram and can hide (or mask) a cancer, which also appears white.

Dense breasts are very common. About 25–40% of women are considered to have dense breasts.

Breast density is one of several independent risk factors for breast cancer. After years of consumer advocacy, more women are being told about their breast density when they get their results from breast cancer........

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