October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Women are encouraged to get regular mammograms starting at the age of 40 as early tests can help catch it sooner.

All patients having a mammogram must now be notified about whether they have dense breast tissue, according to the Food and Drug Administration.

Doctors said dense breast tissue can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. If you do have this type of tissue, there is no need to panic since it’s relatively common, according to health experts.

Reports show nearly half of women ages 40 and older have dense breast tissue.

Doctors may recommend getting additional screening or getting an ultrasound or MRI.

According to the FDA, different people have different symptoms of breast cancer.

The agency encourages you to know how your breasts normally look and feel to be able to recognize any changes that may occur.

Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast or underarm, which is around the armpit area, swelling or thickening of all or part of the breast, redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin, and pain in the any area of the breast.