(WHTM) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently updated its breast cancer screening guidelines.
The latest change is that women should start having mammograms every two years starting at age 40, rather than 50.
“Breast cancer experts know and widely agree that starting screening at age 40 saves the most lives,” said Dr. Laura Dean of the Cleveland Clinic. “But even with that agreement, there's still variation about when screening should begin, when experts recommend starting screening, and how often screening should occur. So the task force thoroughly reviewed the evidence and, importantly, and I think really thankfully, included younger age groups, starting screening at age 40.”
Dr. Dean said that while the recommended age to start mammograms is 40, some women may need to get screened earlier, in part because of a family history of breast cancer.
The task force also addressed supplemental testing, such as MRIs and ultrasounds, for women with dense breast tissue.
While these people may benefit from additional testing, the task force determined there wasn't enough evidence to recommend it, Dean said, so it's a decision best made in consultation with your doctor.
It's important to remember that anyone can get breast cancer, whether or not they are at increased risk.
“When I talk to patients about risk factors for breast cancer, I hear a misconception almost every day from them, where they think that because they don't have a family history of breast cancer, they have no worries or concerns that they won't get it,” Dr. Dean added. “So I think it's really important for patients to know that the vast majority of breast cancers that we see — about 75 percent in fact — occur in patients who have no known risk factors for breast cancer.”
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, excluding skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women.