This spring the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued a new draft of recommendations for breast cancer screening.
What's the USPsTF?
There are 7 leading independent organizations and panels that make breast cancer screening recommendations and other cancer care guidelines. Their reports can influence insurance coverage and best screening schedules for patients with their health care providers. USPSTF is one of the Big 7!
#1 USPSTF recommends:
*Breast cancer screening should start at the age of 40 instead of 50
Find out more here!
#2 Starting in 2024, the FDA has a new ruling requiring all breast centers to notify women of their breast density in their mammogram report.
* About 50% of women over 40 in the U.S have dense breast tissue.
* Dense breast tissue can make cancers difficult to detect on a mammogram
* Dense breasts have been identified as a risk factor for developing breast cancer. 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer.
Those who have dense breast tissue may need to have further evaluation to help with early detection. Every new guideline can help improve breast cancer awareness and save lives! This makes a need for more guidelines to be created to increase the accessibility of affordable healthcare for all! Let's Go PINK ATX!