Television presenter Davina McCall has shared a personal health update, revealing she was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and has undergone surgery.
The star discovered a lump after being prompted to check herself following an appearance on ITV's Lorraine programme. She subsequently had a lumpectomy to remove the cancerous tissue.
The 'Overlooked' Risk Factor
In her disclosure, McCall highlighted a crucial detail about her health: she has dense breasts. This condition, which affects around 40% of women, is a significant yet frequently overlooked risk factor for developing breast cancer.
Professor Justin Stebbing, a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University, explained that breast density refers to the amount of glandular and connective tissue compared to fatty tissue in the breast.
"Simply put, dense breasts have more glandular and fibrous tissue and less fat," he stated.
Why Density Makes Detection Harder
The challenge with dense breast tissue lies in mammogram screenings. Both dense tissue and potential tumours appear white on the scan, creating a masking effect.
Professor Stebbing emphasised that this can lead to cancers being missed. "While mammograms can detect nine out of ten cancers in women with mostly fatty breasts, the sensitivity drops to about seven out of ten in women with extremely dense breasts," he said.
This means the very tool used for early detection is less effective for a large portion of the female population.
Twice the Risk and a Call for Awareness
The implications of having dense breasts extend beyond detection difficulties. It also substantially increases the risk of developing the disease.
"A major study involving more than 33,000 women found that those with dense breasts were nearly twice as likely to develop breast cancer," Professor Stebbing revealed.
He noted that women with the lowest breast density have about a 6% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer after age 50, while those with the highest density face a risk closer to 15%.
Despite its importance, a recent UK survey showed that most women are unaware of their own breast density. This stands in contrast to the United States, where new regulations require women to be notified if they have dense breasts following a mammogram.
Professor Stebbing urged women to be proactive: "Women should be aware of their breast density status, understand its implications for both risk and screening, and work with their doctors to determine the best approach for their individual situation."
He concluded that as awareness grows, the hope is that more cancers will be detected earlier, ultimately improving outcomes for all women.
