Finding out breast density can cause anxiety, confusion

ABC Radio National: Health Report

Dr Brooke Nickel

In some places in Australia, women are notified of how dense their breasts are after they’ve undergone their routine mammogram.

Dense breasts can be a risk factor for cancer, and can also make it harder to detect.

But notifying women can cause anxiety and confusion, not only because of the risks, but because of the out-of-pocket costs that follow.

24 January 2026