A new resource driven by research from the University of Melbourne has been released to support General Practitioners (GPs) in advising patients about breast density and its implications for cancer screening.
Until now, guidance available to GPs when consulting women who are notified of their breast density has been inconsistent. The new resource, released by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing will allow GPs to be better equipped to discuss the implications of high breast density, and advice on when to complete a risk assessment.
Professor Jon Emery from the University of Melbourne's Department of General Practice and Primary Care said understanding breast density was crucial for personalised screening approaches.
"Women with dense breasts may benefit from a discussion with their GP about their breast cancer risk management, including additional imaging tests.
"The guidance has been created with input from breast specialists, radiologists, GPs, policymakers, researchers, and consumers, in consultation with RACGP, and aims to fill a critical gap in patient care. It addresses a significant knowledge gap among women, with many unaware of breast density's impact on cancer detection and risk."
Breast density categories as measured using the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (ACR BI-RADS® Atlas 5th Edition). Figure adapted from BreastScreen South Australia.
This initiative follows a recent recommendation from BreastScreen Australia for women to be informed in writing of their mammographic (breast) density as measured on their screening mammogram (x-ray).
Breast density refers to the amount of fibroglandular tissue in the breast, which appears white on mammograms, similar to cancer. This can make cancer detection more challenging in women with high breast density.
Women with high breast density have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer. It is a strong and prevalent risk factor for breast cancer; however, a woman's individual risk should be considered alongside other factors, including age, family history, height, weight, lifestyle, and hormonal factors. Breast density alone should not guide decisions about breast cancer screening and prevention.
"This resource provides GPs with consistent, evidence-based guidance to facilitate informed discussions with patients, enabling them to consider their screening options based on their individual circumstances," said Dr Dulashi (Anna) Withanage Dona, Research Fellow at the Department of General Practice and Primary Care.
"Shared decision-making is crucial when considering additional screening methods."
"This guidance is the product of national collaboration, including significant consumer and stakeholder consultation, and builds on existing evidence and resources to provide women with clear, consistent information about what their breast density means for their breast health," said Associate Professor Jennifer Stone, Cancer Epidemiologist at The University of Western Australia and Honorary with the University of Melbourne's School of Population and Global Health.
The new guidance aims to standardise care across Australia, where some state/territory screening programs, like BreastScreen Western Australia, have been notifying women of their breast density for over a decade.
This research project supports the University of Melbourne's Impact Accelerator in Health Futures. Learn more about Impact Accelerators: Advancing Research 2030: Excellence for Impact.
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