VICKSBURG – The American College of Radiology now recommends women who are at average risk for breast cancer get screening mammograms annually starting at age 40. The recommendations are in response to the increase in breast cancer diagnoses in younger women and high mortality rates in Black women.
In Mississippi, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women – at more than double the rate of lung cancer, the next most common cancer. Across the U.S., 272,454 new female breast cancer cases were reported in 2021, the most recent year data is available.
Women with strong family histories of breast cancer, African Americans, and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent should have a risk assessment at age 25 to see if a screening mammogram is needed before they are 40. Women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer are recommended to be screened with magnetic resonance imaging and MRI.
“The best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment,” said Thomas Weeks, M.D. “Mammograms can detect cancer before any symptoms, such as a lump, or spreading of the disease occurs, which can increase the likelihood of recovery.”