How Often Should Women Get Mammograms?
- Posted on: May 23 2017
Here at Prime Medical, we are often asked a question by women of various age groups: “How often should women get mammograms?” Advances in Medicine and greater awareness has meant that women are now more knowledgeable about the threat of breast cancer and how timely mammogram screening can help detect this disease early and thus increase their chances of making a complete recovery. It is not surprising to note that more and more women today ask this question. We will do our best to answer it in this blog post.
How Often Should Women Get Mammogram Screening
To answer the question, it is imperative that we first define what is a mammogram screening. It is an x-ray of both breasts to detect the signs or presence of cancer in women with no apparent symptoms. Mammograms can detect tumors that self-examinations fail to detect and also calcifications that may be a symptom of breast cancer. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), the incidence of death from breast cancer is less in women who have undergone routine mammograms than amongst those who have not. Therefore it’s important to schedule routine screenings.
According to the American Cancer Society, women with average risk of developing breast cancer should undergo screening mammograms every one or two years at age forty and over.
ACS’s recommendations on how often should women get mammograms however, needs a clarification. Women with a higher risk of breast cancer, like those who have a family and/or personal history of the disease or are considered to belong to the high-risk category due to other factors, must consult their physicians about the frequency of undergoing this test.
Summary
If you have questions about mammograms or women’s health in general, feel free to speak with one of women’s health physicians at Prime Medical. We are San Pedro’s easiest healthcare provider with your most frequently needed services all on-site. We have two locations in San Pedro, simply call (310) 548-0201.
Tagged with: cancer, mammogram, womens health
Posted in: Health, Lifestyle, Womens Health