When should I start getting mammograms? How often should I get a mammogram? These are questions I hear a lot these days.
The past few years have been very confusing for women and their healthcare providers.
Organizations like the US Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society have issued new mammography recommendations which differ not only from each other but also from organizations such as the American College of Radiology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. In addition, some medical journals, such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, have published studies based on flawed trials including the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study, which makes conclusions based on these trials very problematic.
Women and their healthcare providers are, therefore, receiving different and sometimes conflicting messages from the media, medical journals, and the various professional organizations which have traditionally provided clarity on these topics.
What other organizations are recommending:
Recent statements issued by other organizations suggest that women in their 40s may not need to be screened or screened as often. They also suggest only screening women over 50 every other year. However, I’d like to share a few facts:
- One out of six breast cancers occur in women in their 40s
- Almost half (40%) of lives saved by mammography are women in their 40s
- Most breast cancers (about 75%) occur in women who are not considered high risk
- Skipping a mammogram every other year would result in missing 30% of breast cancers
What the American College of Radiology stands by:
Therefore, the American College of Radiology continues to recommend that women be screened every year with mammography, starting at age 40 or sooner, depending on personal risk factors and family history. This recommendation is echoed by many other professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The bottom line is that getting a mammogram every year starting at age 40 saves lives. Our experienced, highly trained and subspecialized breast imaging radiologists at Nebraska Medicine are ready to read your mammogram today. All screening mammograms at Nebraska Medicine are performed using the most cutting edge 3D technology available. Please talk to your doctor and make an appointment today.