New breast cancer screening guidelines to consider

For women who have an average risk of developing breast cancer, the American College of Physicians is suggesting patients and providers consider following the organization’s new screening guideline, which differs slightly from the American Cancer Society recommendation.

The new guidelines, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, are based on research indicating that mammograms performed biannually would reduce the potential for false-positive test results, over-diagnosis, over-treatment, and radiation exposure, and other considerations. Note: The new guidelines do not apply to patients who have had prior abnormal screening results or who have a higher risk of breast cancer due to personal history or genetic factors.

The American Cancer Society guideline continues to suggest average-risk women begin mammogram screenings at age 45 and continue to have the exam annually until age 54, then bi-annually. This new guideline recommends an average-risk woman begin mammogram screenings every-other-year beginning at age 50. 

Nidhi Sharma, MD, of Cleveland Clinic said patients and doctors should discuss all the available guidelines to determine when to start screening. Sharma said the level of risk versus the level of benefit is different for every woman, so no guidelines are ‘one-size-fits-all.’