At what Age should a Woman Start Mammograms?
At what Age should a Woman Start Mammograms?
Dr. Tanvi Jakhi, Leading Radiologist & Breast Imaging Specialist,
Mammocare Clinic, Andheri West, Mumbai
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in India especially in urban Indian women. More than 50% of Indian women suffer from stage 3 or 4 breast cancer unnecessarily, resulting in a significantly higher death rate.
Breast cancer can affect anyone and there is no way to prevent it. Early detection is the only way to safeguard you in the fight against breast cancer. A mammogram is the gold standard test to detect breast cancer early much before it is felt. Several studies have shown that annual mammograms save lives.
At what age women should start undergoing screening mammography?
Most women are at an ‘average lifetime risk’ of developing breast cancer. The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend that all women get annual screening mammograms starting at age 40[1]. Some women are at a higher-than-average risk for developing breast cancer. For example, few women may have a strong family history of breast cancer or may themselves be a carrier of a breast cancer gene mutation (BRCA mutations). These high-risk women must be screened starting at an earlier age compared to women at average risk of breast cancer.
Should women with no family history also get mammograms done?
About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These can occur due to mutations that happen as a result of a normal ageing process. The # 1 risk factor for developing breast cancer is being female. Hence the women with no family history too must screen themselves every year starting from the age of 40 years.
How does early detection of breast cancer help?
Screening for breast cancer with annual mammography helps identify early breast cancer. Cancers found during screening mammograms are likely to be smaller and confined to the breast. Early detection of breast cancer dramatically improves the chances of complete cure with 93% or higher survival rates in the first five years [2].
This has been evident by the 40% decline in breast cancer mortality in the United States since mammography screening became widespread in 1980s[3]. Also, the treatment modalities offered at early stages are usually much less expensive and complex than the ones deployed at advanced stages.
Does breast-self-examination detect breast cancer early enough?
Most small cancers escape self-examination, making breast-self-examination unreliable and ineffective to detect breast cancer early. Many cancers are often located deep within the breast tissues and hence not felt with the self-examination. Hence some women may feel fine after a self-examination and skip a mammogram, while they may actually have a cancer that would have otherwise been detected by mammography. Breast self- examination should not be used as an alternative to screening mammograms. Screening mammography detects breast cancer much before it is felt and is the only reliable method to detect early breast cancer.
What action can you take today?
If you are eligible for breast screening either by age (40 years and above), or due to high-risk factors such as family history (in which case even if you are younger than 40 years), talk to your Doctor today about an annual Mammography plan – A simple ritual that can save your life! Detect to protect!
Dr. Tanvi Jakhi,
Leading Radiologist & Breast Imaging Specialist,Mammocare Clinic, Andheri West, Mumbai