With younger women at higher risk for breast cancer, experts are lowering the age for women to seek mammograms.However, a shift in who is getting breast cancer has triggered a change in mammogram guidelines.Since 2009, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended age 50, even though major medical groups, and even health insurers, backed starting at age 40.
"There were more women getting breast cancer in their 40s. And that the rates were increasing by about 2% a year," says Dr. Streibert."Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women, and all too often get more aggressive cancers at a younger age," Dr. Richardson said.However, Dr. Streibert says other concerning guidelines didn't change.
On average, breast cancers double in size about every six months, so a two-year wait could allow a 1/4-inch tumor to grow to 2 inches. Dr. Streibert says other disparities such as cost, and transportation must come down so every woman has regular access.
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