Who should have a screening mammogram and how often should they be performed?
Every woman is at risk for breast cancer and should obtain regular screening mammograms. The American College of Radiology, the American Cancer Society, as well as many other health care organizations have endorsed a set of guidelines for mammography screening. A baseline examination should be obtained between the ages of 35-40. A woman in her forties should have a mammogram every 1-2 years. Yearly mammograms are recommended over 50 years of age. These recommendations may be modified depending on each woman’s risk factors, such as family history.
