New proposal changes recommended mammogram screening age from 50 to 40
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force draft recommendation will be open for public comment until June 6, before they publish a final version.
A new medical recommendation will encourage women to start getting breast cancer screenings sooner.
The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force is proposing women start getting screening mammograms at the age of 40 rather than 50. The preventative services task force's draft recommendation will be open for public comment until June 6, before they publish a final version.
"In 2023, more than 43,000 women are expected to die from breast cancer so that comes out to one women every 13 minutes," said Dr. Valeria Brutus, entry chief of breast surgery at Hartford HealthCare.
This recommendation would not only help save the lives of all women but particularly Black women who have a higher risk of dying from breast cancer.
"We know there is a huge disparity in breast cancer mortality and also the age of detection in Black women so that would help," said Brutus.
If the proposal is approved, it will apply to women like Jazmine McCall, who just turned 40 in December.
"Knowing that I can go earlier versus waiting later is important to me," said McCall.
Experts say 10 years can make all the difference.
Doctors say patients should have a conversation with their doctor to determine when they should start screening.
