Wake Radiology recommends mammograms starting at age 40. High-quality, annual 3D mammography remains a woman’s best option for early breast cancer detection.
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Long-term follow up in multiple studies have shown an 18-29% reduction in breast cancer mortality when annual screening is done between ages 40-50.
- Mammography detected breast cancer in the 40-50 age group results in lower-stage disease, reduced treatment and lower rates of recurrence.
- 3D mammography improves cancer detection in dense breasts, a significant issue for the 40-45 age group., One out of two women in this age range have dense breast tissue. 3D mammography also helps reduce patient anxiety, provides increased clarity, and reduces the need for follow-up tests.
Annual Screening Mammograms for Women 40 and Older
Early detection is the best protection. Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women in the United States during their lifetime and 1 in 6 breast cancers occur in women aged 40-49. The American College of Radiology recommends an annual screening mammogram beginning at age 40. While some cancers (about 20%) cannot be found by mammography alone, early detection requires a combination of breast self-awareness and a yearly mammogram. A baseline mammogram is a name used for a patient’s first screening mammogram. It is important because it is usually used as the basis for comparison in later tests. Wake Radiology also recommends that women conduct self-exams each month to detect changes in their breasts and to schedule a yearly clinical exam with their primary healthcare provider. Request a mammogram appointment today!
Early Screening Mammography for High-Risk Patients Under 40
Women who are at higher than average risk of breast cancer (family history of the disease or because they carry a known mutation in either the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene) should talk with their primary care physician or radiologist about whether to have mammograms before age 40, when to start and how often to have them. We are devoted to maintaining excellence across a comprehensive set of breast imaging methods, following best practices and going above and beyond what any other local provider does. We are focused on providing the most specific answers possible to women and their referring providers. Here are some specific guidelines to learning when screening mammography is right for you.
The following medical organizations affirm that 40 is the right age to start annual screening mammograms.
- American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Minimum Age: 40
- Annually
- American College of Radiology/Society of Breast Imaging
- Minimum Age: 40
- Annually
- American Medical Association
- Minimum Age: 40
- Annually
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Minimum Age: 40
- Annually
- American Cancer Society
- Minimum Age: 40 (individual choice)
- Frequency: 45-54 Annually. 55-Older Every 1-2yrs.
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
- Minimum Age: 40 (individual choice)
- Frequency: 50-74: Every 2yrs.
- Minimum Age: 40 (individual choice)