Typically, breast tissue includes the underlying pectoral muscle, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, lymph vessels and nerves. Does the structure of breast tissue have any bearing on a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer? Apparently it does. A recent study has found that the denser a woman’s breast tissue is, the more are the chances of her developing breast cancer. Women living in urban areas are normally found to have denser breasts, which in turn translates into higher susceptibility to the development of Breast Cancer . Breast tissue which is more glandular shows up as denser than the ones that are fatty on a mammogram. Women with glandular breast tissue are almost 4 times more likely to develop breast cancer than the ones with fatty breast tissue. To determine the factors that contributed to higher breast density, researchers studied several mammograms from women in rural, suburban and urban areas. Surprisingly, what emerged from the study was that women who lived in the city had significantly denser breasts that those who lived in the outskirts or rural areas. The 45 to 54 year age group showed increased risk with density variation most prominently. The study outlines just one of the possible factors that may contribute to higher breast tissue density. Further research is needed to conclusively state that the place of residence contributes to the density of breasts. There are several other factors that also contribute, such as stress, workplace and other lifestyle factors. Digital mammography may be more appropriate for women with dense breasts. Breast tissue is not just restricted to the chest, but it also extends to under the arms. Screening of breasts for any signs of malignancy through regular mammograms is advised as a preventative measure against breast cancer. The recent study indicates that women living in cities are at higher risk and must have better access to routine screening.
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