The American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) recommend that women start getting annual mammograms at age 40. The American Cancer Society (ACS), U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), ACR and SBI agree that this approach saves the most lives.

• American College of Radiology (ACR) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Women at Average Risk for The Disease

• ACR/SBI Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines for Women at High Risk for the Disease

By not getting annual mammograms starting at age 40, you increase your chances of dying from breast cancer and the likelihood that you will experience more extensive treatment for any cancers found.

We include the guidelines below to make you aware of the options and help you make informed decisions.

• American Cancer Society (ACS) Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines recommend that women start regular mammograms no later than age 45 and that those who want to start at age 40 should have insured-access to mammograms.

• U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations do not call for routine mammograms for women ages 40–49 and recommend screening every other year for those ages 50–74.

Notes on USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations:

• Published analysis shows that following these USPSTF guidelines would miss approximately a third of cancers and result in 6,500–10,000 additional breast cancer deaths each year.

• The federal government has barred Medicare and private insurance companies from basing mammography coverage on these USPSTF recommendations.

• These USPSTF recommendations have been scientifically rejected by every major medical organization with demonstrated expertise in breast cancer care.

Significant scientific evidence supports recommendations to start annual mammograms at age 40. This approach saves more lives than delayed or less frequent screening. We hope that you find this information useful.

• According to National Cancer Institute data, since mammography screening became widespread in the 1980s, the U.S. breast cancer death rate, unchanged for the previous 50 years, has dropped nearly 40 percent.

• A study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention shows mammography screening cuts the risk of dying from breast cancer nearly in half.

• Perhaps the largest (Hellquist et al) and longest running (Tabar et al) breast cancer screening studies in history, reconfirmed that regular screening cut breast cancer deaths by roughly a third in all women ages 40 and over (including women ages 40-49).

• A study in Cancer showed that more than 70 percent of women who died from breast cancer in their forties at major Harvard teaching hospitals were among the 20 percent of women not being screened.

• A study in the British Medical Journal shows that early detection of breast cancer – as with mammography – significantly improves breast cancer survival.

• An analysis in the American Journal of Roentgenology, showed that if USPSTF breast cancer screening guidelines were followed, approximately 6,500 additional women each year in the U.S. would die from breast cancer. 

Start @ 40

Reduction in Breast Cancer Mortality from Organized Service Screening with Mammography: Further Confirmation with Extended Data.

The Mammographic Screening Trials: Commentary on the Recent Work by Olsen and Goetzsche.

Breast Cancer: Computer Simulation Method for Estimating Optimal Intervals for Screening.

Mammography Harms

JAMA — Consequences of False-Positive Screening Mammograms – Anxiety from false-positives is short-term with no lasting effects.

JAMA — Enthusiasm for Cancer Screening in the United States – Nearly all women who have a false-positive exam still endorse regular screening and want to know their status.

The Oncologist — Arguments Against Mammography Screening Continue to be Based on Faulty Science

Concerns Related to Commonly Reported Studies

US Preventive Services Task Force Guidelines Are Not Supported by the Scientific Evidence and Should Be Rescinded.

Informed decision making: age 50 is arbitrary and has no demonstrated influence on breast cancer screening in women.

Bias in the Medical Journals: A Commentary.

Canadian National Breast Screening Study: Assessment of Technical Quality by External Review.

• American Cancer Society expressed methodological/technological concerns about CNBSS.

• Breast cancer groups, such as BreastCancer.org, criticize CNBSS.