Investigating the link between breast density and interval cancers - Research • Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

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Investigating the link between breast density and interval cancers

Dr Monica Saini - Hutt Valley DHB
Dr Monica Saini - Hutt Valley DHB
September 2020
Research Grant

What is the problem and who is affected?

Interval cancers are those that are found between mammograms. They are often larger and more dangerous than mammogram-detected cancers. In New Zealand, nearly a third of tumours detected in women of screening age (45-69) are interval cancers. It seems many interval cancers occur in women with high breast density

What is this research hoping to achieve?

We’ve awarded Dr Monica Saini, the lead radiologist at Hutt Valley DHB, $75,000 to explore whether having dense breast tissue means a woman is more likely to develop an interval cancer, factoring in ethnicity, age and family history. If a link is found, the next step would be to improve the national breast screening programme so that women with dense breasts are monitored more often, in the hopes of catching cancer earlier and reducing deaths.