Guidelines for Proper Breast Health

Advocate has considered the recommendations of various nationally recognized organizations as to when and how often a screening mammogram should occur and has chosen to individualize these recommendations based on a woman's age and her personal risk of developing breast cancer. Advocate's recommendations are based on the following factors:

Family history of pre-menopausal breast cancer
Women with a strong family history of pre-menopausal breast cancer should begin getting a yearly mammogram at an age 10 years younger than when a mother or sister was diagnosed.

Under 50
Women under 50 without a strong history of breast cancer in their family are advised to take a shared decision-making approach. A woman and her doctor, based on identified risk factors, decide on the proper schedule of screening mammograms. Typically this would be every 1-2 years beginning at age 40.

Over 50
A screening mammogram every 1-2 years is recommended for women over 50.

*Recommendations approved by the Advocate Mammography Screening Team April 2002.

Guidelines of other health care organizations
A woman's age is the determining factor in the guidelines of these nationally recognized organizations:

	Recommends counseling about potential risks and benefits of mammography and clinical breast exam for women ages 40 to 49 American Academy of Family Physicians
	Recommend an annual mammogram beginning at age 40 American Academy of Family Physicians American Cancer Society American College of Radiology American College of Surgeons
	Recommend a mammogram every 1-2 years for women 40-49 years of age American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist American Medical Association American Medical Women's Association National Cancer Institute
	Recommend that women under the age of 50 NOT be screened American College of Physicians Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination
	State there is insufficient evidence to recommend for or against routine screening for women under 50 years of age American College of Preventive Medicine U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
	Recommend annual mammograms for women 50 years of age and older American Cancer Society American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American College of Radiology American College of Surgeons American Medical Association American Medical Women's Association Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination
	A mammogram every 1 to 2 years for women 50 and over American Academy of Family Physicians American College of Physicians American College of Preventive Medicine National Cancer Institute U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

As you can see, there are many opinions on the topic of good breast health. The most important thing to remember, however, is that your personal physician who knows your history can best advise you about differing guidelines.