Screening Tests for Adults (50 and Up)

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. With timely mammograms for women 40 years of age and older, about 16 percent of all deaths from breast cancer could be prevented, say the nation’s public health advisors. This imaging test detects a lump an average of 1 to 3 years before you can feel it.

Middle-aged women: The American Cancer Society (ACS), American Medical Women’s Association, and numerous national women’s groups recommend annual screening for those of average risk as follows:

• Beginning at 40 years of age, women should have a mammogram and breast exam by a health professional each year.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force supports a less rigorous approach:

• Women 40 years of age or older should have a screening mammogram, with or without a breast exam by a health professional, every 1 to 2 years.

Older women: The ACS says older age is no reason to stop or be screened less often:

• Mammograms for older women should be based on the individual, her health, and the effects of any serious illness (for example, congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or moderate-to-severe dementia). If you are in good health and your health enables you to be a candidate for treatment, continue getting mammograms.

These recommendations are for women without known risk factors for breast cancer. If you have an increased risk, discuss whether and when to use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of the screening strategy. The ACS link below provides a list of factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer, including genetic predisposition and family or personal history of breast cancer.

Sources

American Medical Women’s Association. Breast cancer screening. Revised 2000. Available on the Internet at http://www.amwa-doc.org/index.cfm?objectId=0AA0C8F2-D567-0B25-565A679EEA33CD7D through http://www.amwa-doc.org. Accessed 7 Feb 2008.

American Cancer Society. Detailed guide: breast cancer—can breast cancer be found early? Revised 13 Sep 2007. Available on the Internet at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?dt=5 through http://www.cancer.org. Accessed 7 Feb 2008.

American Cancer Society. Breast cancer: early detection.  Available on the Internet at http://www.cancer.org/docroot/cri/content/2_6x_breast_cancer_early_detection.asp through http://www.cancer.org. Accessed 15 Jul 2004 and 7 Feb 2008.

National Women’s Health Information Center, US Department of Health and Human Services. General screenings and immunizations for women. Material posted as of Nov 2007. Available on the Internet at http://www.4women.gov/screeningcharts/general through http://www.4women.gov. Accessed 4 Feb 2008.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, 2007. Available on the Internet at http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/pocketgd07/gcp2c.htm through http://www.ahrq.gov. Accessed 4 Feb 2008.

American Academy of Family Physicians. Summary of recommendations for clinical preventive services (rev 6.4). 15 Aug 2007. Available on the Internet through http://www.guideline.gov. Accessed 4 Feb 2008.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Women’s health—facts and stats—selected US national research findings—cancer. 2004. Available on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/women/natstat/cancer.htm#breast through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed 7 Feb 2008.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, US Department of Health and Human Services. Breast cancer: the most common malignancy in women. Spring 2004. Prevention Report 18(3). Available on the Internet at http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/PUBS/prevrpt/04Volume18/Issue3pr.htm through http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov. Accessed 7 Feb 2008.

American College of Radiology. Breast care guidelines (press release). Nov 2000.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program—reducing mortality through screening (2003 program fact sheet). Revised May 2004. Available on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/about.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed 15 Jul 2004.

US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for breast cancer: recommendations and rationale (release date Feb 2002). 3 Sep 2002. Ann Intern Med 137(5 Part 1):344-346. Available on the Internet at http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/uspstf/uspsbrca.htm through http://www.ahcpr.gov. Accessed 15 Jul 2004 and 7 Feb 2008.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Healthy People 2010, increase proportion receiving mammogram objective 3.13. Available on the Internet at http://www.healthypeople.gov/document/html/objectives/03-13.htm through http://www.healthypeople.gov. Accessed 15 Jul 2004 and 7 Feb 2008.

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Table 80: use of mammography for women 40 years of age and over according to selected characteristics: United States, selected years 1987-2000. Health, United States 2003. Available on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hus/womens.htm through http://www.cdc.gov. Accessed 6 Aug 2004.