While for some women it's been a lifesaver, the utility of mammography screening for breast cancer has been a bone of contention since it's unpleasant and can be downright painful. One way to make it more bearable would to give women more control over the procedure – and the FDA recently approved a device to do just that.
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When should women at average risk for breast cancer start mammography screenings? Should they start at 40, or is it better to wait until 50? The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has weighed in, concluding that "cancer mortality is generally reduced" with screening. But other issues need answers.
A recent Huffington Post op-ed by a female MD demanded "the truth" about mammograms, so that women could best help themselves. Well, there's no truth yet: the data continue to be evaluated and medical societies continue to make the best guesses they can. So, women should learn what they can and discuss the options with their physician.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) stood firm to their 2009 recommendation that women should receive biennial mammograms from ages 50 to 75. The report also continues the party line that starting mammograms at a younger age (i.e. age 40) is a decision that should be made on the individual basis with inpu
The age at which women should start getting screening mammograms is an ongoing debate. While some think there is no downside to earlier routine screening, it can actually lead to a greater chance of overdiagnosis and overtreatment, along with anxiety, inconvenience, and expenses. In 2009, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended that women begin breast cance
Most breast cancer deaths occurred among women who had not been screened, and the median age of diagnosis was 49-50. The authors say this calls for more frequent and younger age for mammograms to start.
Today we have an example of some breast lesions atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) that may require such a redefinition under some circumstances.