New USPSTF Recommendations for Mammograms at 40

Published: 30 April 2024 at 18:00

Health

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now advises women to get mammograms every other year starting at age 40, a change from the previous starting age of 50. The task force mentions a lack of evidence on the benefits and risks of additional breast cancer screenings like ultrasounds and MRIs for women with dense breast tissue. Other groups recommend annual screenings at 40 for average-risk women and earlier for high-risk patients. The update comes in response to rising cancer rates in young people, with a 79% increase in cancer rates among those under 50 from 1990 to 2019.