New Draft Guidance Drops Breast Cancer Screening Age from 50 to 40 for Women with Average Risk
By Sony Salzman
New treatment guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says breast cancer screenings for women with average risk should begin at age 40 and performed every other year through age 74. The guidance lowers the age when screening should start from age 50. The guidance follows recent studies pointing to a 2% annual increase in breast cancer diagnoses between 2015 and 2019 for women in their 40s. It does not apply to individuals with a significantly higher-than-average risk of breast cancer, including breast cancer survivors and those who are predisposed due to genetics, family history, or personal medical history. The task force did not recommend additional imaging, such as ultrasound or MRI, for those with dense breast tissue. Comments on the recommendation will be accepted through June 6.
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