{"id":1418,"date":"2014-07-07T12:30:13","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T12:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alldaychemist.com\/blog\/?p=1418"},"modified":"2014-07-07T12:30:13","modified_gmt":"2014-07-07T12:30:13","slug":"get-mamogram-40","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alldaychemist.com\/blog\/get-mamogram-40\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Get a Mamogram after 40?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\"Mamogram\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The American Cancer Society recommends women to start mammography screenings\u00a0<\/span>at the age of 40. Additionally, it recommends that women at higher risk of breast cancer\u00a0<\/span>(with a cancerous family history), should go for regular breast MRIs, if a mammogram\u00a0<\/span>screening shows any abnormalities.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
However, recent guidelines by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force suggest that\u00a0<\/span>mammography should advisably start at the age of 50 instead of 40,<\/strong> however this<\/span><\/span> is only\u00a0<\/span>a suggestion for<\/span><\/span> the average woman. What should women with average or high risk of\u00a0<\/span>breast cancer do? We take a close look.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span>General Guidelines and<\/span><\/span> Age Recommendation<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
According to the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, screening mammograms<\/a><\/strong><\/span> <\/span><\/span>is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recommended<\/span><\/span><\/span> for women. The recommendation applies to the average woman.\u00a0<\/span>Women at very high risk should go for mammograms at the age of 40 or start even\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>sooner<\/span>. A mammogram is necessary at any age in the event of a lump<\/span> being found in the\u00a0<\/span>breast<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Basically, regular mammograms are a good step to detect breast <\/a><\/strong><\/span>cancer<\/a><\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/strong>early<\/span>\u00a0 on,\u00a0<\/span>thereby leading to more chances of survival upon early treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
There are several factors that decide what age a woman should start mammograms.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Women who are not at high risk of breast cancer can start mammogram screenings\u00a0<\/span>at 50. \u00a0However, just to be on the safe side, it is advisable for a woman to go for one\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>mammogram at the age of 40 to 45<\/strong>; if it turns out normal, the next mammogram can\u00a0<\/span>happen at<\/span><\/span> 50. The National Research Center for Women & Families and their Cancer\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Prevention and Treatment Fund has been advising this standard for a couple of years\u00a0<\/span>now.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
For those who are at high risk of breast cancer, mammograms should begin at an earlier\u00a0<\/span>age<\/span>. The age of 50 is a standard guideline for the average woman who is not at high\u00a0<\/span>risk<\/span> and shows no symptoms. However, if a woman detects a lump, a mammogram\u00a0<\/span>should<\/span> happen right away, irrespective of her age. Also, in general, a woman who is at\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>higher<\/span> risk of breast cancer\u2014owing to various reasons such as environment<\/span><\/span> exposures\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span> family history of cancer\u2014should go for regular mammograms after the age of 40, or\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>even<\/span> earlier, to be cautious.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
If a woman has been tested positive for the BRCA genetic mutation, she is at higher\u00a0<\/span>risk<\/span> of developing breast cancer. Earlier, annual mammograms between 25 to 35 were\u00a0<\/span>recommended<\/span> for carrier of this genetic mutation. However, recent studies have\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>something<\/span> else to say. It is now said that mammograms before 35 are futile,<\/strong> and in\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>fact<\/span>, harmful. This is due to the increased exposure to radiation during mammograms,\u00a0<\/span>which<\/span> shoots up the risk of developing breast cancer induced by radiation. In short, it\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span> possible that a woman might not have developed breast cancer otherwise, but ends\u00a0<\/span>up<\/span> getting it as a result of starting mammograms too early and being exposed to higher<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>radiation<\/span> in her lifetime.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Any woman who has a close relative such as a mother, grandmother or a sister with a\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>history<\/span> of breast cancer when they were 50 or older has a high risk of getting breast\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>cancer<\/span>. Some women can also be at high risk due to obesity<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span> Such women are advised to\u00a0<\/span>go for mammograms every year or every 2 years after the age of 40.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

What should young women with risk of breast cancer do?<\/span>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n
For a woman who has a close relative who got breast cancer at a younger age, regular\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
mammograms<\/span><\/span> are advised starting<\/span><\/span> before 40. The downside here is that young\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>women<\/span> have a tendency for dense breasts, which come up white<\/span><\/span> on mammograms.\u00a0<\/span>The problem here is that cancer comes up looking white as well, thereby making\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>mammograms<\/span> pretty pointless for screening and diagnosing young women, or any\u00a0<\/span>woman<\/span> who has dense breasts. For such women, a better and far more accurate option\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>is<\/span> a breast MRI.\u00a0<\/span>It is not only more precise but also safer than a mammogram.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It is worth noting that breast MRIs are more beneficial but<\/span><\/span> come at a price. MRIs are\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>much<\/span> pricier than mammograms. A breast MRI costs nearly $2,000 on an average, which\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>is a whopping 20 times more than the cost of a mammogram.<\/strong> Another sad news is that\u00a0<\/span>insurance doesn\u2019t necessarily cover the cost of a breast MRI, unless a doctor specifically\u00a0<\/span>recommends an MRI owing to high risk of cancer. There is a long way to go for medical\u00a0<\/span>science in terms of coming up with firm conclusions on breast MRIs.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Related article:\u00a0Diet and PMS: How Are They Related<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

Mammography according to cancer risks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n
Biennial mammography, which means mammography screening every 2 years, is\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>very<\/span> beneficial for all women in the age bracket of 40 to 79 who have dense breasts\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>or<\/span> a combination of family history of breast cancer and breast biopsy. This is the<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>recommendation<\/span> mentioned in Dr. John Schousboe 2011\u2019s publication titled \u2018Annals of\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Internal Medicine\u2019.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Furthermore, biennial mammography is also good for women with average breast\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>density<\/span> in the age bracket of 50 to 69, as well as women with low breast density falling\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span> the age bracket of 60 to 79.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
Dr. John Schousboe is in tune with the guidelines set by the Task Force that\u00a0<\/span>recommends that the average woman should go for biennial screening starting at the\u00a0<\/span>age<\/span><\/span> of 50 where as<\/span><\/span><\/span> a woman who has a high risk of breast cancer should start screening\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>before hitting 50.<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
At last, the age and frequency of mammography screening depends<\/span><\/span> on factors such as\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>breast<\/span> density, age, family history of breast cancer, breast biopsy history as well as a\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>woman\u2019s<\/span> personal views<\/span> on the risks and benefits of mammography screening.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
As a woman grows older, the risk of breast cancer escalates<\/strong>. The chances of getting\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
breast<\/span><\/span> cancer are<\/span><\/span> much higher after the age of 50 than when a woman is younger.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Hence, as a general conclusion, annual mammograms are most beneficial for women\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>after<\/span> the age of 50. There are also most cost effective at this age. As mentioned\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>before<\/span>, mammograms started at an earlier age tend to have less accuracy and lead to\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>unnecessary<\/span> breast biopsies and needless to mention, anxiety in women.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

Are more frequent mammograms better<\/span><\/span>?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n
A lot of women think that more frequent mammogram screenings are better if they can\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>afford<\/span> it. However, it is wise to stick to standard guidelines as discussed above. Women\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>need<\/span> to remember that more mammograms mean more exposure to radiation, which in\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>turn<\/span> increases the chance of getting breast cancer.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
In order to cut back exposure to radiation, it is advised that the average woman should\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>start<\/span> mammograms at 50. Less frequent mammography also equates to fewer false<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>alarms<\/span>, thereby reducing the hassle of unnecessary test, biopsies and anxiety.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

Do mammograms save lives?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n
Regular mammograms definitely help save lives by diagnosing breast cancer at an early\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
stage<\/span><\/span>. The number of deaths caused due to breast cancer has seen a drastic reduction in\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
over<\/span><\/span> the years due to regular mammography. As mammography has gained popularity\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span> recent years, a rising number of women have been diagnosed at an early stage, and\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span> advent of new cancer treatments has saved a lot of lives. However, we have a long<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>way<\/span> to go as far as saving lives is concerned.<\/span><\/div>\n
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

Stopping self-exams of breasts<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h1>\n
According to the Task Force, breast self-exams are more risky than beneficial. Self-exams\u00a0<\/span>can often lead to unnecessary false alarms. In any case, by the time the cancer is evident\u00a0<\/span>enough to be detected in a breast self-exam, it will be found anyway. The same logic\u00a0<\/span>applies for<\/span><\/span> doctors conducting self-exams. In short, breast self-examinations of any sort\u00a0<\/span>are may send false-positive or true-negative results in cancer detection and thus not\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
recommended<\/span>.<\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
If you have any query or suggestions, feel free to share your views in the comments box below.<\/div>\n
Share this article if you are a woman or you care about one.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The American Cancer Society recommends women to start mammography screenings\u00a0at the age of 40. Additionally, it recommends that women at higher risk of breast cancer\u00a0(with a cancerous family history), should go for regular breast MRIs, if a mammogram\u00a0screening shows any abnormalities. \u00a0 However, recent guidelines by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force suggest that\u00a0mammography should advisably start at the age of 50 instead of 40, however this is only\u00a0a suggestion for the average woman. What should women with average or high risk of\u00a0breast cancer do? We take a close look.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":3427,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2355,2379],"tags":[2744,2757,2796,2797,4348,4826],"class_list":["post-1418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health","category-womens-health-2","tag-breast-cancer","tag-buy-cancer-medication-online","tag-cancer-medication","tag-cancer-medication-online","tag-shop-for-cancer-medication-online","tag-womens-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t