Mammograms should start at 45, not 40
The American Cancer Society updated its breast cancer screening guidelines. Among the changes is moving the suggested age for annual mammograms from 40 to 45, according to an article in the October 20 issue of JAMA.
The last guideline update was done in 2003. Since then, new studies suggest that 45 to 54 is the crucial age range for detecting breast cancer.
The 2015 recommendations for breast cancer screening for women at average risk:
- Women should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45.
- Women 45 to 54 years of age should be screened annually.
- Women 55 years and older should transition to biennial screening or have the opportunity to continue screening annually.
- Women should have the opportunity to begin annual screening between the ages of 40 and 44 years.
- Women should continue screening mammography as long as their overall health is good and they have a life expectancy of 10 years or longer.
- Clinical breast examination is not recommended for breast cancer screening among average-risk women at any age.
“The ACS endorses beginning annual screening mammography at age 45 years and transitioning to biennial screening at age 55 years, while retaining the option to continue annual screening, which some women may elect based on personal preference, clinical guidance, or both,” the authors write. “After careful examination of the burden of disease among women aged 40 to 54 years, the guideline development group (GDG) concluded that the lesser, but not insignificant, burden of disease for women aged 40 to 44 years and the higher cumulative risk of adverse outcomes no longer warranted a direct recommendation to begin screening at age 40 years.”
Regarding no longer recommending periodic clinical breast examination (CBE), the researchers write that “the absence of clear evidence that CBE contributed significantly to breast cancer detection prior to or after age 40 years led the guideline development group to conclude that it could no longer be recommended for average-risk women at any age.”
“This guideline is intended to provide guidance to the public and clinicians, and it is especially designed for use in the context of a clinical encounter. Women should be encouraged to be aware of and to discuss their family history and medical history with a clinician, who should periodically ascertain whether a woman’s risk factor profile has changed. If the woman has an average risk of developing breast cancer, the ACS encourages a discussion of screening around the age of 40 years. The ACS also recommends that women be provided with information about risk factors, risk reduction, and the benefits, limitations, and harms associated with mammography screening.”
Category: Features, Wellness and Complementary Therapies
