Mammogram Guidelines Are Changing. But They ’ re Still Controversial Among Doctors

For decades, women have received changing advice about who should mammogram screenings for breast cancer, and how often. The guidelines have been especially variable for women in their 40s—leading them confused about what schedule is right for them. The recommendations may be changing yet again. From 2016 until now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), a government body of experts that regularly reviews data on important health issues, has advised women ages 40 to 50 to make personalized decisions about their screening schedule after discussing their health history and risks for breast cancer with their doctors. But in May, the task force concluded that most women in their 40s who are at average risk for breast cancer should get mammograms every other year. That means that the task force now believes all women ages 40 to 74 should be screened every other year, since the group already recommends that women 50 to 74 get screened every other year. The USPSTF is accepting public comment on the new proposed guidelines until June 5, 2023 before making a final recommendation. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The USPSTF isn’t the only health group with mammogram guidelines; other professional organizations recommend even more frequent screenings—but these can come with risks. Here’s what women should know about the potential changes and how it affects them. The data behind the new guidelines The proposed updated guidelines reflect the ...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Cancer healthscienceclimate TIME 2030 Wellbeing Source Type: news