At What Age Should You Start Getting Mammograms?
In this video, oncologist Brenda Panzera, MD, explains the guidelines for what age to begin mammograms for breast cancer screening, depending on individual risk factors.
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.
- Brenda Panzera, MDDr. Panzera is a clinical instructor in hematology and oncology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and attending physician at Mount Sinai and Lenox Hill Hospitals.
References
American Cancer Society. (2022). Mammogram basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). What is breast cancer screening?