I get lots of questions about the value and risk of regular mammograms. This article sheds some additional information on the use of mammograms. I generally recommend waiting to start screening until after the age of 50 years old, but advise monthly breast self-exams (BSE’s) starting at 20 years old. Interestingly, this article reports that early mammograms (before the age of 30 years old) in women at high risk for breast cancer may actually further increase their risk. If you, or someone you love, carries the genetic markers for increased breast cancer risk (BRCA1 and BRCA2), please advise them to consider screening with MRI instead of mammograms.
