Extra cancer scans for women with dense breasts could save 700 lives a year – UK study

Regular mammograms can be less effective at spotting cancer in the 10% of women with very dense breasts, as the tissue can hide tumours on X-rays. Photograph: Rui Vieira/PA

Hundreds of lives could be saved every year with extra cancer checks for women with very dense breasts, a study suggests.

Millions of women undergo breast screening, but regular mammograms can be less effective at spotting cancer in the 10% with very dense breasts, as the tissue can hide tumours on X-rays. This is because very dense breasts look whiter on scans, making it harder to detect early-stage disease, which also appears white.