When breast cancer starts, it is too small to feel and does not cause signs and symptoms. Mammograms help doctors look for early signs of breast cancer. If breast cancer is found early, it may be possible to treat it before it spreads.
In 2008, more than 75% of women over 40 reported having a mammogram in the past 2 years. However, women may have questions about when to start getting regular mammograms and about the benefits and potential harms. Physicians and other health care providers may also want to better understand the scientific evidence about the use of screening mammograms.
On this pageFor Women
Women age 40 and older should have mammograms every 1 to 2 years. Women who are at higher than average risk of developing breast cancer should talk with their health care providers about whether to have mammograms before age 40 and how often to have them.
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For Health Professionals
Research shows that screening mammography helps reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer among women ages 40 to 74. However, in addition to this benefit, mammography has some limitations and potential harms.
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