Last month, the American Cancer Society released new breast cancer screening guidelines recommending that women should wait until age 45 to begin annual mammograms—five years later than previously recommended.
The American Cancer Society now believes that mammograms may do more harm than good before age 45, as younger women may receive “false positive” results and undergo unnecessary follow-up testing.
It is important to remember that this recommendation is not definitive, as other reputable organizations advise different screening guidelines (for example, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends age 50). To determine what is best for you, talk to your doctor, especially if you have a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors.