While mammograms are no longer suggested for women ages 40 to 44, the ACS states that women in this bracket still have the choice to discuss risks and benefits of screening with their doctor, and can start annual screenings if they choose. And, rich, going off of that point, most people know that I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40 from a mammogram and so for women like me or women who are afraid they’re going to be me, the big question is why. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force released new guidelines in May that women begin having mammograms every other year starting at age 50.
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Up until now, the American Cancer Society has recommended that women have annual mammograms starting at age 40.
What do other groups say? .
Younger women now needn’t be paranoid about getting mammograms done before they turn two score and 5.
This video includes images from Getty Images.
“So women won’t have the opportunity to make a personal decision if they don’t have the insurance coverage there to do it”, she said. “We hope this extraordinary and thorough review will calm that worry”, affirmed Richard Wender, member of the group’s breast cancer guidelines panel.
“Screening mammography has been shown to reduce breast cancer deaths by 35%”.
One of the reasons for the change stems from researchers determining that early testing leads to more false positives, which can be traumatic for women, “But how much is the trauma?” said Hurwitz. I don’t think every woman needs to start at an exact age. The society is also recommending women start getting mammograms at age 45, and that they get fewer mammograms after 55.
There was a bit of a shake-up this Breast Cancer Awareness month as the American Cancer Society announced new mammogram guidelines on Tuesday.
Dr. Pruthi does say she was surprised, however, that the ACS no longer recommends clinical breast exams by physicians for women of average risk.
The American Cancer Society said everyone should have access to mammograms.
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“A woman needs to know what her individual risk factors are and what the risks, benefits and limitations of screening mammography are”, Dr. Shepardson says. And many healthy women are not seeing doctors routinely to have the conversation about screening, and may not get balanced information anywhere else. At 37, her doctor felt a lump in her breast, one Diane had never felt during self-exams.
