Recommended age for mammograms now at 40

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force has released new recommendations for breast cancer screenings.

It’s now being recommended that all women get screened every other year starting at age 40 to reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer.

The task force says more inclusive science research about breast cancer in people younger than 50 was the reason for lowering the age for mammograms.

Dr. Leena Pande, a radiologist at Memorial Health Systems, says that early screenings can help save lives. “Early detection is again what saves lives. It’s always better to find it earlier than later. We are seeing younger women being diagnosed more and more. So, it’s very important for women to begin screening at 40 so we can avoid any problems down the road.”

Memorial Health System is currently offering mammogram discount certificates on their website.