Last week, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released new recommendations for breast cancer screenings, advising women to start regular mammograms at 40 years old instead of waiting until 50, as previously suggested. These new guidelines come after the release of a draft recommendation in May 2023.  

The USPSTF’s recommendation aligns with the majority of other organizations’ suggestions, indicating that women should begin screening at age 40 and continue every other year until the age of 74. These updates are in response to emerging research showing an increased incidence of breast cancer among women in their 40s.  

However, while the guidelines have been eagerly anticipated, one key concern raised by many experts and organizations is the perceived inadequacy of the guidelines in addressing the specific needs of women with dense breasts. Another point of contention revolves around the recommendation to cease breast cancer screening for women over the age of 74. 

To learn more about this topic, check out our latest Zotec Answers podcast episode where Mark Isenberg discusses these new recommendations with Dr. Cathrine Keller, a Florida radiologist. They discuss why these changes are significant and what they mean for women’s health. To listen to this insightful conversation and learn more about the topic, check out Zotec Answers.