Breast cancer accounts for more than 30% of cancer diagnoses in women every year. One out of every eight women is at significant risk for breast cancer in her lifetime.
Screening for breast cancer is essential to ensuring your long-term health. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want you to know when you should start getting mammograms to detect cancer.
Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. John Paul Roberts helps his patients understand the latest guidelines regarding breast cancer screenings. He provides in-office mammograms and other screening tools to ensure you stay ahead of breast cancer and other issues.
Breast cancer screening can help us diagnose the disease before noticeable symptoms appear, and earlier diagnosis means we can fight the cancer in its earliest stages, when it’s more treatable.
The main form of breast cancer screening is a mammogram. This X-ray technology checks your breast tissue for cancerous changes, lumps, or masses.
A mammogram is the best way to screen for breast cancer for women at average risk. Along with monthly self-breast examinations and yearly screenings, mammograms help detect cancer early on to prevent the disease from progressing.
Women at a high risk for breast cancer may require an MRI of the breasts in addition to the mammogram.
If you find a lump in your breast or armpit, you should come in for an evaluation. The same is true if you have unusual breast symptoms such as a sore that won't heal or discharge from a nipple.
If you don't have any symptoms, though, when should you begin breast cancer screenings? We explain the up-to-date guidelines for breast cancer screening so you don’t miss the early signs of cancer.
The United States Preventive Service Task Force recommends that women over 40 begin screening for breast cancer. Earlier this year, the task force lowered the age from 50 to 40 to better align with other organizations, like the American Cancer Society.
Women should also get mammograms at least every other year to screen for breast cancer, from age 40 until age 74. The recommendation is for women at average risk for breast cancer. Dr. Roberts lets you know how often you should get a mammogram based on your risk factors and breast density.
There's not enough evidence to support a recommendation for women over 74. Women under that age should discuss the need for further breast cancer screenings with Dr. Roberts based on their overall health and life expectancy.
Talk to Dr. Roberts about your family history and any symptoms you may be experiencing. Regardless of your risk for breast cancer, you should do breast self exams every month to check for breast tissue changes.
To schedule an appointment to discuss breast cancer screening, call our Plano, Texas, office today at 972-591-8540 or request a consultation with Dr. Roberts via this website.
