American Cancer Society Guidelines for Early Detection of Breast Cancer

• Yearly mammograms starting at the age of 40 and continuing as long as the woman is in good health.

• Clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam every 3 years in women 20-39, and yearly in women age 40 and older.

• Breast self examination is encouraged with any physical changes to be reported promptly to the woman’s health care provider. Breast self exam is encouraged in women beginning age 20.

• Women at high risk for developing breast cancer (greater than 20% lifetime risk) should get a mammogram as well as a breast MRI every year.   Women at moderately increased risk (15-20% lifetime risk) should talk to their doctors about the benefits and limitations of adding MRI screening to their yearly mammogram.  Yearly MRI screening is not recommended for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15%.

The American Cancer Society, 2009.     
www.cancer.org

The above recommendations represent a joint effort between the American Cancer Society and the National  Cancer Institute which published a statement 3/27/2007 stating that mammographic screening of women in their 40s is beneficial and supported by current scientific evidence.