US Panel says Breast Cancer Screenings Should Start at Age 40
The Facts
The US Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF) released new guidelines on Tuesday, recommending all women undergo mammogram screenings every other year starting at age 40.
Previous advice suggested women start getting mammograms at age 50, or in their mid-40s based on personal risk for breast cancer.
The Spin
Narrative A
Breast cancer diagnoses among younger women are on the rise. Changing the recommendations for the age women should start getting mammograms will help doctors catch cancer early, and save lives.
Narrative B
Lowering the recommended age that women should undergo mammograms could lead to overdiagnoses of breast cancer and unnecessary medical intervention. The likelihood of false positive mammogram results are higher in younger women, and it may prompt a need for additional testing that can be expensive or invasive.