Not everyone in this age group may need screening for every condition listed here. Click on the links above to read more about each condition and to determine if screening may be appropriate for you or your family member. You should discuss screening options with your health care practitioner.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. Regular screening can help to detect tumors at an early stage when they are most treatable. Several methods are available for screening, including mammography, an imaging test that is especially effective at detecting breast cancer several years before symptoms develop. A number of organizations have published guidelines recommending when women should begin having screening mammograms, some of which disagree. Women should talk to their health care providers to help them decide when they should begin screening.

Recommendations: Women in their 30s

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends a breast exam by a health professional about every 3 years as part of a regular health exam.

Breast self-exams are also an option, according to ACS, and women should report any changes they feel in their breasts to their health care provider.

Recommendations: Women in their 40s

ACS as well as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend annual screening for those of average risk as follows:

Beginning at 40 years of age, women should have a mammogram and breast exam by a health professional each year.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation for those of average risk is as follows:

Under age 50, the decision when to start regular screening mammography should be an individual one, taking into consideration such factors as a woman's risk tolerance.

The recommendations above are for women without known risk factors for breast cancer. If you have an increased risk, you should develop an individualized screening program with the guidance of your doctor. The ACS link below provides a list of factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer, including genetic predisposition and family or personal history of breast cancer. ACS recommends that women at high lifetime risk be screened with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in addition to mammography annually beginning at age 30.

American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Facts & Figures 2011-2012. PDF available for download at http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/content/@epidemiologysurveilance/documents/document/acspc-030975.pdf through http://www.cancer.org. Accessed July 2012.

American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer. Available online at http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/FindCancerEarly/CancerScreeningGuidelines/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer through http://www.cancer.org. Accessed July 2012.

National Guideline Clearinghouse. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Breast cancer screening. Washington (DC): American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG); 2011 Aug. 11 p. (ACOG practice bulletin; no. 122). Available online at http://www.guideline.gov/content.aspx?id=34275 through http://www.guideline.gov. Accessed July 2012.

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This page was last reviewed on August 13, 2012. | This page was last modified on November 7, 2014.

The review date indicates when the page was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the page, so the two dates may not always agree.

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