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Do physicians recommend breast cancer screenings based on guidelines?
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/breast-screening-guidelines
Full article: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2617276
Several guidelines help physicians decide when a woman should begin screening for breast cancer and how often she should be screened. However, are these guidelines put into use in the clinic? (8/8/17)
Expert Guidelines
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network breast screening guidelines recommend the following for women at average risk for breast cancer:
- ages 25-39:
- practice breast awareness
- clinical breast exam every 1-3 years
- risk assessment, including questions about family and personal medical history should be done during clinical exam to find high risk women who may need additional screening
- ages 40 and older:
- practice breast awareness
- yearly clinical breast exam
- risk assessment, including questions about family and personal medical history should be done during clinical exam to find high risk women who may need additional screening
- yearly mammogram - consider 3D mammograms if available.
- NCCN has a different set of guidelines for individuals who are determined to be at increased risk for breast cancer.
Many other professional societies and organizations have breast cancer screening guidelines that differ slightly. They don't all agree on the age mammogram screening should start and how frequently they should be done.
It is important to note, that all the groups support the opportunity for women ages 40 to 49 to decide it mammogram screening is right for them.
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- Are you aware of my family history of cancers?
- At what age do you suggest I begin screening mammograms and why?
- Are there any risks to starting mammograms at a younger age?
- How often should I get screened for breast cancer?
- What should I do if I feel a lump in my breast?
Open Clinical Trials
The following are breast cancer screening or prevention studies enrolling people at high risk for breast cancer.
Additional risk-management clinical trials for people at high risk for breast cancer may be found here.
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.