Breast Cancer: Screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women ages 40 to 74 years get a screening mammogram every 2 years. This recommendation applies to cisgender women and all other people assigned female at birth (including transgender men and nonbinary people). It also applies to women who have factors associated with a higher risk of breast cancer, like a family history of breast cancer (i.e., a first-degree relative with breast cancer) or having dense breasts.

This recommendation doesn’t apply to people who have a genetic marker or syndrome associated with a high risk of breast cancer (e.g., BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variation), a history of high-dose radiation therapy to the chest at a young age, or previous breast cancer or a high-risk breast lesion on previous biopsies.

USPSTF found insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of screening mammography in women age 75 years or older.

USPSTF also found insufficient evidence to assess the balance of benefits and harms of supplemental screening for breast cancer using breast ultrasonography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women identified to have dense breasts on an otherwise negative screening mammogram.