At what age should mammography be done?

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Alexander Bessonov

Candidate of Medical Sciences, surgeon-oncologist, Researcher, N.N. N. N. Petrova.

In most European countries, breast cancer screening programs with mammography begin at age 50. In Russia - from 40 years old, within the framework of medical examinationOrder of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation dated March 13, 2019 No. 124n "On approval of the procedure conducting a preventive medical examination and clinical examination of certain groups of an adult population ". In this case, the interval for performing studies is a period of 2 years.

In the United States, mammography programs are also launched from the age of 50, but the professional community recommends that women be informed about the fact that the risk of breast cancer begins to increase from 40 years old enough to justify the implementation of screening research.

To understand the feasibility of mass screening in a certain age category, you need to be aware of the risk. Thus, at the age of 30–40 years, the 10-year risk of developing breast cancer is 0.4%. In the age group 40-50 years - already 1.4%, and in the 50-60 years - 2.3%.

The best option for determining whether a woman should start being examined at the age of 40 is an individual risk assessment, for example, based on Gale's models. Women with a result above the average for their age should start examinations at the age of 40. The rest - from 50.

This does not apply to carriers of genetic abnormalities, as some syndromes are associated with a high and very high lifetime risk of cancer. They are identified with a special analysis, and the doctor prescribes a special examination regime for these patients.