Breast cancer screening recommendations updated for women age 40
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and if you are turning 40, it's time to get your first mammogram.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel of experts in disease prevention and evidence-based medicine, recently changed the mammogram recommendations for women ages 40 and older.
The USPSTF recommends that all women get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 after recommending in the past that women of average risk between the ages of 40 and 50 make an individual decision about when to start mammography screening.
Early detection is critical for breast cancer treatment and survival
Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the U.S. Early detection is critical to treatment and survival, and women are getting breast cancer at younger ages. Starting mammograms for all women at age 40 is expected to save nearly 20% more lives from breast cancer overall, with an even greater potential to help Black women, who are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, according to the USPSTF.
Dr. Michael Seemuller, chief quality officer at AnMed and medical director of AnMed Primary Care - Wren, said that although many women are already screening every year beginning at age 40, this change stresses the importance of applying that recommendation to all women.
"The most important thing to know is that prior to this, we may have just suggested screening between the ages of 40 and 50," Dr. Seemuller said. "Now it is a recommendation for everyone."
Before age 40, women should talk with their doctor if they have concerns about their breast health.
"As physicians, we make individual considerations for special circumstances depending on the patient's medical history, their family's medical history and other environmental concerns that might put them at increased risk for certain diseases," Dr. Seemuller said.
AnMed's mammography team includes, from left, Cindie Thrower, Rachel Moore, Shannon Wheeler, director Reggie Cooks, Patsy Hackett, Kim McLeod, radiology manager Kim Stevens, and, not pictured, radiologist Dr. Katie Abraham, Rebecca Watt, Denise Ashley, Anna Barnette, Baylee Slaton, Andrea Segars and Susan Holcombe.
A mammogram could save your life
Women can feel confident in scheduling with AnMed's mammography team, which recently fulfilled the American College of Radiology's guidelines and achieved reaccreditations for all AnMed mammography units. This lets patients know that they are getting the highest level of image quality and safety they can get, AnMed Radiology Manager Kimberley Stevens said.
And because AnMed is accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and MRI, the health system is an ACR Designated Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.
"Mammography is the best way to detect early breast cancer where detection at an earlier stage can make a difference in an outcome in mortality - so the earlier you find cancer, the less chance you have of dying from that cancer if you get treatment," Dr. Seemuller said.
How to schedule your mammogram
"As a family physician, I always tell my patients to make health, and specifically preventive health, a priority," Dr. Seemuller said. "The good thing about mammograms is that you can get in and out of our mammogram department in as little as 15 to 30 minutes. We've made it easy to schedule, and we've created outreach with our mobile mammography unit, which has the same equipment as the mammography center in the hospital."
Scheduling a screening mammogram with AnMed is easy. Book an appointment online or through MyChart at locations in Anderson or Pickens or on the mobile mammography unit.
"If it has been one year and one day since your last mammogram, it will take you straight through the process of getting on the schedule, and it's super easy," Stevens said. "It's just a couple clicks of a button."
Nervous about your first mammogram? You're not alone
"Any time you go in for a procedure that you've never been through before, it can certainly be anxiety-producing. We want to take all the steps we can to try to lessen that anxiety," Dr. Seemuller said. "Even though getting the first mammogram might be scary, it's very important to get the test done. Our mammogram technicians are very well trained to make it as good an experience as possible."
Stevens said women should let their provider know if it is their first mammogram.
"They'll guide them every step of the way and explain to them what's going to happen and why, and why we have to use compression," she said. "Our technologists go through the process and make it easier for them."
Book online at AnMed.org/services/breast-health/mammography.