American Cancer Society Backs Annual Breast Cancer Screening At Age 45
By Yvette Brazier // October 22, 2015
first major update since 2003
New Guidelines For Breast Cancer Screening Age
MEDICAL NEWS TODAY — Women should have the opportunity to begin annual screening for breast cancer from age 40 and also be allowed to continue screening annually after 55, according to the American Cancer Society’s new breast cancer guidelines, published in JAMA.
In the first major update since 2003, the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer undergo regular, annual screening mammography from age 45, but with the option of starting earlier; and women 55 years and older should screen every second year instead of annually, but with the option of continuing annually.
Breast cancer is the second cause of cancer death in US women, after lung cancer. It is estimated that in 2015, some 230,000 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,300 women will die from it.
Death from breast cancer has declined steadily since 1990, largely due to improvements in early detection and treatment. Early detection is considered essential to successful treatment of breast cancer.
CLICK HERE to read more about the new breast cancer screening guideline rationale and details on MedicalNewsToday.com
