And there are some indications that younger women should have the tests done more frequently. Cancer experts at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say annual tests, instead of the traditional biannual mammogram, could help detect small tumors earlier and that significantly improves the chances for successful treatment. In fact, nearly 90 percent of breast cancer cases can be successfully treated if detected early enough. More than 180-thousand American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. More than 40-thousand will die from it.
Breast cancer is the second leading cancer killer of women.
Only lung cancer is more deadly. Researchers aren't sure why, but younger women may have faster growing tumors than women over 50. Regular mammogram screening may be appropriate for younger women with a strong family history of breast cancer. Still, breast cancer is more common among older women. More than three-quarters of the women diagnosed with breast cancer are over the age of 50.