Micrima Research: Breast Density Awareness in the UK

Micrima Research: 9 in 10 do not know their breast density

New research commissioned by Micrima and undertaken by Opinium, has uncovered a stark lack of awareness around breast density among UK women, despite it being a key breast cancer risk factor. 

As part of our efforts to raise awareness of breast density, we sought to understand the scale of the problem and its implications for breast cancer detection and risk assessment.

 The breast density knowledge gap

Our study uncovered that a staggering 86% of women don't know their breast density, and 67% are unaware that dense breasts make cancer screening more challenging. In fact, based on our data, we estimate that approximately 4 million women over 40 in the UK have dense breasts without realising their increased risk.

Breast density refers to the amount of fibrous or glandular tissue compared to fat in the breast. Dense breasts not only increase the risk of developing breast cancer, but also make it harder to detect using standard mammography. This is particularly concerning given that up to 40% of women over 40 have dense breasts, and the denser the breast, the higher the cancer risk.

“I was concerned about an unusual area I felt on my breast. Although it was nine months after my last clear mammogram, I booked a private ultrasound. I was told by the sonographer that I had ‘the densest breasts’ they had ever seen and was questioned about why I hadn't been having MRIs due to the reduced sensitivity of mammography to find tumours in dense breasts.”

Clare Cowhig, cancer survivor

The importance of awareness and innovation

With breast cancer being a significant concern for many women, awareness about breast density must be improved. Our research shows that when informed about the risks, nearly three-quarters (73%) of women aged 35-54 who don’t know their breast density, expressed interest in finding out.

"Following the comments from the sonographer, I requested my hospital records. I discovered that my dense breast tissue had been noted after each of my annual mammograms, yet this information was never shared with me. If I had been told about my dense breasts, I would have sought additional screening. I believe my tumours could have been found at a smaller and less advanced stage and I wouldn’t have had to endure such extensive treatment, including a double mastectomy.”

Clare Cowhig

Our research reveals that two-thirds (67%) of women in the UK are unaware that having dense breasts makes it harder to screen for breast cancer using standard methods - with one in twenty (5%) thinking it makes it easier, and one in six (16%) believing it makes no difference.

Despite the confusion around density, breast cancer is of national concern, with half (50%) of women not currently experiencing breast cancer in the UK admitting to being worried about developing breast cancer in their lifetime - rising to 57% for women aged 35-54. Tellingly, nearly half of women (49%) believe the Government is not doing enough to improve the speed, accuracy and access of breast cancer diagnosis. 

We have developed specialised scanning technology, Mi~Scan®, that analyses breast tissue quickly, painlessly, and without ionising radiation or the need for a hospital visit. Following one simple scan, medical practitioners are better equipped to select the right diagnostic test for cancer detection, which has the potential to improve outcomes for thousands of women. 

The device is already in the clinical trial phase and an application for European CE marking under the Medical Device Regulations has been submitted. We anticipate the technology will be available in the UK and Europe in 2025.

“Breast density is so important and Micrima’s research spotlights that we must do more to lift the lid on breast density and let women know why it matters. We need to empower women with knowledge so they can take ownership of their breast health.”

Leslie Ferris Yerger, CEO, My Density Matters

Our commitment to saving millions of lives lost to the late detection of breast cancer is unwavering. Increasing awareness about breast density is crucial for improving survival rates. We encourage all women to learn about breast density and its implications, discuss it with their healthcare providers, and consider additional screening options if they have dense breasts.

 By equipping both women and medical practitioners with the right knowledge and tools, we can work towards earlier detection and better outcomes in breast cancer care.

Download the full study HERE.

Research Methodology

- Opinium surveyed 998 UK Women aged 18 and above online between 13th September – 17th September 2024. Survey data is weighted to be nationally representative on age, gender and region.

- Opinium surveyed 984 UK Women aged 18 and above online between 17th September – 20th September 2024. Survey data is weighted to be nationally representative on age, gender and region.

*Opinium’s nationally representative survey of 2000 UK adults found that 887 are UK women who don’t know their breast density. 887 / 2000 * 53646829 (UK adult population) = 23792369

**Calculated using Opinium Omnibus data that estimates that there are 17.9 million women over the age of 40 in the UK:

·       40% of 17.9 million = 7.1 million (number of women over 40 who have dense breasts)

·       86% of 7.1 million = 6.1 million (number of women over 40 who have dense breasts and don't know their breast density)

·       66% of 6.1 million = 4.06 million (number of women over 40 who have dense breasts, don't know their breast density and don't know it is a risk factor for breast cancer)

Sources

1.    National Cancer Institute (US): Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions

2.    Study: ‘Breast density effect on the sensitivity of digital screening mammography in a UK cohort’ - July 2024

3.    National Cancer Institute (US): Dense Breasts: Answers to Commonly Asked Questions