New guideline that laid emphasis on black African descent is now urging women, from age 40 to get regular screening for breast cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, 2009 guideline, had stated that breast cancer screening begins at age 50, but it appears to have reversed itself inview of new data.
The USPSTF said on Tuesday that the updated guidelines bring it in line with other major organizations that say women at average risk of breast cancer should start screening at age 40, or at least talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits.
By lowering the age to start biennial screening to 40, the USPSTF is acknowledging evidence that more women under the age of 50 are now getting diagnosed with breast cancer.
Black women, in particular, stand to benefit from earlier screening, experts say. Breast cancer mortality is 40% higher among Black women than among white women, and Black women are more likely to get breast cancer at younger ages, the USPSTF report noted.
“There should hopefully be less confusion on the ‘right’ age to consider screening for average risk people,” said Deirdre Saulet, vice president of cancer care at Carrum Health, a digital marketplace for employers to purchase bundled healthcare services.
“I would anticipate that a greater proportion of the primary care doctors in the country would be recommending starting at age 40 for women of average risk,” said Dr. Carol Mangione, chair of the USPSTF.
Nearly half of all women have dense breasts, which increases the risk for breast cancer, but the task force says there is not yet enough evidence to recommend for or against additional screening with breast ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging in these individuals.
