What do Western Australian women know about breast density?

In April 2018, INFORMD member Dr Jennifer Stone from the University of Western Australia presented preliminary results at the BreastScreen Australia Conference of a study to assess the impact of breast density notification in Western Australia. BreastScreen WA have been notifying women if they have dense breasts for over a decade and currently are the only Australian state to do so. Preliminary results of the survey indicated that over 70% of the 5000+ women surveyed said that knowing their breast density made them feel informed. Less than 5% of women said they did not feel informed. Approximately 20% of women said that knowing their breast density made them feel anxious, and around 60% of women said that the information did not make them feel anxious. However, anxiety did not appear to deter women from attending screening, with more than 96% of women who felt anxious about their density indicating that they intend to have another mammogram when next due. Finally, preliminary results also showed that around 17% of women who have been notified they have dense breasts have had an ultrasound due to their breast density.