Do you know when you should start having regular mammograms? Educate yourself. It could save your life.
40 or 50?
The other day, I got a little letter in the mail reminding me that I need to make my next appointment for a mammogram. If I were to follow the new guidelines about mammogram recommendations, my breasts might be flying under the radar. That is, unless I found a problem, I wouldn’t be getting the test each year. And since breast cancer is most curable when in the early stages, for someone who develops the disease, her story could end in tragedy.
Fortunately, my doctor, who specializes in women’s medicine, is very clear about the importance of mammograms, despite changes in the the recommendations of a government task force, which now recommends that screenings don’t begin until age 50. (The National Cancer Institute still recommends screening beginning at age 40).
Why the Change?
The government task force concluded that the percentage of women who do get breast cancer in their 40s is significantly less than those who develop the disease in their 50s and concluded that it is not worth the effort of screening. They also concluded that breast self exams are not necessary and that women should not be taught to do them.
The implications of this conclusion has many doctors and cancer survivors up in arms. They are worried that insurance companies may take the recommendations of the task force as license to deny coverage of routine mammogram screen for women between the ages of 40 and 50. They are also concerned that many cases of early stage cancer will be missed.
Talk to Your Doctor
When it comes to getting regular mammogram screenings, if you are approaching 40, you should talk to your doctor. As I mentioned, I’m all for finding a doctor who is proactive about screenings. Your doctor should take into account your family history, your lifestyle and all of your risk factors. My doctor even considers the statistical information about how many cases of breast cancer occur in our area compared with the average in the country.
Remember that breast cancer can occur at any age, and both men and women can develop the disease.
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