For this reason, an annual screening mammogram is recommended by the American Cancer Society for all women 40 years and older. However, there is now some debate about whether women age 40 to 49 years ought to undergo mammography more frequently.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States.
However, recent progress in the areas of cancer screening and treatment hold promise for even earlier detection and higher cure rates. The term screening refers to the regular use of certain examinations or sensitive tests in persons who do not have any symptoms of a cancer but are at high risk for a cancer. When a person is at high risk for breast cancer, this means that she has certain characteristics, called risk factors, that make her more likely to develop breast cancer than those women who do not have these risk factors. Women who have any of these risk factors should speak with their doctor about receiving a mammogram regularly. In addition, it is currently recommended that women age 40 years and older have a mammogram every year.