age 50, and then every two years until age 74.
Meanwhile, the American Cancer Society says 40- to 44-year-old women should consider annual mammograms. They are recommended for women between 45 and 54 years of age.
“Screening every two years has been found to be effective for most women in terms of detecting cancer early while reducing the harms of screening such as false positives,” Miglioretti shares.
Still, she says, guidelines aren’t written in stone.
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“Some women at higher risk of advanced cancer despite screening might choose to screen annually, for example, postmenopausal women who are obese or taking hormone replacement therapy,” Miglioretti adds. “If women are unsure, they should talk with their clinicians about the tradeoffs of annual versus biennial screening.”
Being called back after a screening mammogram or ultrasound for additional images or a biopsy should be considered routine, says Dr. Laurie Margolies, chief of breast imaging at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. She was not part of the study, but reviewed the findings.
“It is not a cause of alarm as most of the time we can clear people with additional images,” Margolies notes.
She believes that getting a mammogram every two years instead of yearly is a “major mistake.” The new study doesn’t look at cancers found by yearly screens compared with screens done every two years.
Mammograms aren’t perfect, but they are getting better, says Dr. Marisa Weiss, founder and chief medical officer of Breastcancer.org and Breasthealth.org in Ardmore, Pa.
“We still need better methods of early detection that both reduce the risk of a false positive [false alarm] and lower the risk of a false negative [missing a cancer] for all women, especially young women who are more likely to have dense breasts, an inherited high-risk predisposition, and more at stake: young children, growing careers, more years of life at risk,” says Weiss.
It’s important to do everything in your power to take care of yourself, which includes regular mammogram screening. If you are uncertain of your risks and how often you should be screened, consult with your doctor.
If you are having trouble getting regular mammogram screenings, the following tips may help:
- If you’re worried about cost, talk to your doctor, a local hospital social worker, or staff members at a mammogram center. Ask about free programs in your area. You can also call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or the National Cancer Institute at 1-800-422-6237 to be directed to lower-cost mammogram centers in your area.
- If you’re having difficulty scheduling a mammogram at the center where you live, call the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute, or visit the American College of Radiology website’s Accredited Facility Search to find additional certified mammogram providers near you.
- If you find mammograms painful, ask the mammography center staff members how the experience can be as easy and as comfortable as possible for you.
- Many states require that private insurance companies, Medicaid, and public employee health plans offer coverage for specific health services, including mammograms. The only state without a law ensuring that private health plans cover screening mammograms is Utah.
This information is provided by Breastcancer.org.