Why is mammography not recommended for women under age 40?
The reasons why mammography might be less beneficial in younger women than in older women are not entirely clear. One explanation is that the dense breast tissue of younger women can obscure abnormalities to such a degree that current mammography cant always pick them up. Another reason is that breast cancers in younger women tend to grow faster than breast cancers in older women. This means that regular mammograms (every year) may be less likely to detect cancers in younger women. Another important factor for young women considering mammograms is the high rate of false positive results in this age group. A false positive result is one that says theres a problem (like cancer) when in fact cancer is not present. Because so few breast cancers occur in younger women compared to older women, young women who are screened with mammography are more likely to have a false positive result. This means they will be told that they have an abnormality and will undergo follow-up testssuch as additio
