It is recommended that women over 40 years old have an annual clinical breast exam and women 20-39 years old have one at least every three years. Mammograms may be performed at any age to evaluate a breast lump or other problem. But a routine screening mammogram is recommended for the first time in a woman without any symptoms at about age 40. Additional mammograms should be obtained every 1 or 2 years. Women in their forties and older should be aware that a monthly breast self-exam is not a substitute for regularly scheduled screening mammograms and clinical breast exams by a health professional.
Current mammography represents very little x-ray exposure and is safe.
When breast cancer is diagnosed, the type of cell involved and the degree of spread are important to establish. These factors determine what treatment choices are best and give clues about what to expect in the future. The clinical stage of breast cancer is the best indication of the likely outcome. Common causes Some of the causes of lumps in a mature woman's breast are discussed below. Fibrocystic changes can occur in either or both breasts and is most common in the upper outer quadrants.