age guidelines for mammograms
Previously, the society recommended mammograms every year starting at 40. But the cancer society said that women 40 to 44 should still âhave the opportunityâ to have mammograms if they want them, and that women 55 and older should be able to have them once a year if they choose.
Not all organizations agree on mammogram guidelines. For instance, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force mammogram guidelines recommend women begin screening at age 50 and repeat the test every two years. The American Cancer Society and other organizations recommend screening begin at 40 and continue annually.Reacting to changing evidence.ayo Clinic supports screening beginning at age 40 because screening mammograms can detect breast abnormalities early in women in their 40s. Findings from a large study in Sweden of women in their 40s who underwent screening mammograms showed a decrease in breast cancer deaths by 29 percent.