Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines
New evidence-based patient-facing breast cancer guidelines from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) call for annual mammograms for all average-risk women over the age of 40 years. This simplifies the message, says the NCCN.
Read the NCCN article
Elizabeth Wende Breast Care follows the American College of Radiology/Society of Breast Imaging (ACR/SBI) breast cancer screening guidelines highlighting the importance of annual screening for all women.
Highlights
- Starting screening at 40 for all women
- The benefit of a risk assessment by 30
- Addressing underserved and overlooked populations, including transgender people and minority women
Breast Self-Awareness
- Learn to identify possible changes in your breasts
- Continue yearly check-ups & clinical breast exams by healthcare providers
Average Risk Women
- All women should have a discussion with their primary care physician regarding their breast cancer risk by age 30
- Yearly screening mammograms starting at age 40
- Every year thereafter as long as in reasonably good health
High-Risk Women
- Women with a strong family history of breast cancer or genetic mutation may benefit from starting screening earlier than age 40
- Consult your physician about when to start mammography & if any additional imaging is needed, such as a high-risk breast MRI
Women aged 75 and Older
- No upper age limit if you are in reasonably good health
- Cancer screening may still be valuable for older individuals (By Amerigo Allegretto, AuntMinnie.com staff writer, Dr. Destounis quoted)
- Read 2018 research done at EWBC
Benefits of Screening Mammography
Resources
New NCCN Guidelines for Mammography: All Women Over 40
Mammography Saves Lives (Society of Breast Imaging/American College of Radiology website)
The American Society of Breast Surgeons’ position statement
Breast Cancer Screening in Women at Higher-Than-Average Risk: Recommendations From the ACR
Screening Guidelines Comparison Sheet (dense breast-info.org)
