Dense breast tissue is getting federal attention.
Through its Office on Women’s Health (OWH), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched efforts to prioritize education, screening, and mid-life follow-up care for women with dense breast tissue. Impacting up to 50% of women, dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect tissue abnormalities and cancer via routine mammograms, sometimes requiring additional screening.
Working with 40 health systems nationwide, the OWH–AHRQ Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnostic Follow-up Initiative will assess screenings and follow-up practices over time to establish standardized protocols. HHS has also partnered with DenseBreast-info.org to expand education access.
“Women deserve clear information about breast cancer screening options beyond mammography, particularly if they have dense breasts or other risk factors,” said Tammy Huizenga, DO, Senior Advisor for Nutrition and Women’s Health, AHRQ. “Understanding their individual risk and available options helps women and their healthcare providers make informed decisions that support earlier detection.”
The initiative builds on the White House’s latest women’s health efforts and comes amid growing attention to screening options for dense breast tissue, including the launch of GE HealthCare’s Invenia ABUS Prime, an AI-powered ultrasound system, and BeSound’s plans for nationwide clinic expansion.
