At What Age Should You Start Getting Mammograms?

If you’re someone who worries about dealing with breast cancer at some point in your life, one of the best things you can do is begin breast cancer screening — including mammograms — at the recommended age. Catching breast cancer early tends to improve your prognosis, since early cancers that have not spread to other parts of the body are more easily curable.  

 “Any woman who has a question about when to start screening for breast cancer should meet with their physician or healthcare provider and have a discussion about what's best for them,” says Brenda Panzera, MD, oncologist at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Lenox Hill Hospital. The exact age you should begin breast cancer screening depends on your own personal risk factors. Learn more about what it means to be average risk, moderate risk, and high risk for breast cancer. 

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Written by:

Lauren Smith, MA

Lauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.

Reviewed by:

Alexandra Schwarz, MD

Alexandra Schwarz, MD, is a board-eligible sleep medicine physician and a board-certified family medicine physician. She is a member of both the AASM and the ABFM.

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