When Should I Have My First Mammogram?

October 4th, 2011

General Guidelines

For most women, age 40 should be when you start having yearly mammograms in order to minimize your likelihood of developing advanced breast cancer (“Government Mammography Task Force vs. You”).  Some doctors send their patients for a baseline mammogram at age 35, and I wouldn’t argue with that.

Family History

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer (mother or sister), start having your mammogram 10 years younger than the age that relative was diagnosed, OR at age 40, whichever is younger.  For example, if your sister had breast cancer…

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Tags: BRCA1, BRCA2, breast cancer, breast cancer gene, breast cancer screening, breast density, breast lump, breast MRI, breast sonogram, breast ultrasound, early detection, family history of breast cancer, government task force on mammograms, high risk for breast cancer, mammogram, radiation to the chest, USPSTF
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