Why start mammograms at 40? Doctor explains new advice.
Women should start getting regular mammograms at the age of 40, according to a new recommendation being drafted by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. This is a reversal from the previous recommendation of age 50, which means more than 20 million women will now be considering mammogram screening. In order to better understand the implications of this change, the Gazette spoke with Steven Isakoff, the director of Breast Cancer Clinical Research at Mass General Cancer Center and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. Q&A Steven Isakoff GAZETTE: In the past, mammogram screening started at age 40. But in 2009, it was increased to age 50. And now it’s reversing back to age 40. Why? ISAKOFF: In the U.S. breast cancer treatment community, we’ve generally felt that it never should have changed from 40. So for us, this is back in line with...