![]() That balance of benefits to risks becomes more favorable at age 45, so annual screening is recommended starting at this age.Įvery life lost to cancer is important. ![]() However, because the evidence shows some benefit from screening with mammography for women between 40 and 44, the guideline committee concluded that women in this age group should have the opportunity to begin screening based on their preferences and their consideration of the tradeoffs. Because of this, a direct recommendation to begin screening at age 40 was no longer warranted. The evidence shows that the risk of cancer is lower for women ages 40 to 44 and the risk of harm from screenings ( biopsies for false-positive findings, overdiagnosis) is somewhat higher. Why did ACS change its guideline to say routine screening should start at 45 instead of 40? In general, women at high risk for breast cancer include women with a family history of breast cancer in a first degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter), women with an inherited gene mutation, and women with a personal history of breast cancer. The best way to determine if you are at average or high risk for breast cancer is to talk with your health care provider about your family history and your personal medical history. This guideline is for women at average risk for breast cancer, but how do I know if I am at average risk? Breast self-exam is also no longer recommended as an option for women of any age. The ACS no longer recommends a clinical breast exam (CBE) as a screening method for women in the U.S. In addition, the guideline says that women should transition to screening every 2 years starting at age 55, but can also choose to continue screening annually. Women ages 40 to 44 can choose to begin getting mammograms yearly if they want to. The biggest change in the current guideline is that we now recommend that women at average risk for breast cancer start annual screening with mammograms at age 45, instead of age 40 (which was the starting age in our previous guideline). How does this guideline differ from previous ACS guidelines? Here are some answers to questions people might ask about it. The American Cancer Society released its current breast cancer screening guideline for women at average risk in October, 2015.
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