New mammogram guidelines suggest screening later, less often

In a special communication published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Society recommends women with average risk begin getting mammograms at age 45. The previous recommendation was age 40.

In addition, the American Cancer Society recommends that women age 55 and over can opt out of annual mammograms and instead adopt a biennial schedule. According to the guidelines, women should continue getting mammograms as long as they have a life expectancy of 10 years or longer.

Manual breast exams performed by doctors are also no longer recommended.

The new guidelines add to the confusion women face when it comes to mammogram recommendations.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women begin getting mammograms every other year until age 74.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that women begin getting mammograms at age 40.

The American Cancer Society points to the risk of false positives and unnecessary treatment as a reason for their decision to move the recommended mammogram start age from 40 to 45.

Young breast cancer survivors claim they would be dead if they had waited to get mammograms.

Women should talk to their doctors about their risk for breast cancer and individualized mammogram screening recommendations.