When should an average woman start getting mammograms?
This is currently a topic of debate. The American College of Radiology (ACR) recommends that a woman get a baseline mammogram at age 40 and annual screening mammograms thereafter. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that women with an average risk of breast cancer should undergo screening mammography starting at age 45 (annually in women of age 45-54 and either annually or biennially in women age 55 and older), although they should have the opportunity to begin annual screening between ages 40-44. The United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women of ages 50-74 undergo biennial screening mammography, although biennial screening may be started in women of age 40-49 on an individual basis.
