Women: Review the Latest American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

The following is a brief overview of recent changes to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines. The American Cancer Society breast cancer screening guidelines have been revised to take into account new scientific findings and developments.

There are three types of detection:

Self Breast Exam
Self breast exams are when women check their own breasts each month. This allow women to become familiar with the texture of their breasts. There are limitations to self breast exams (SBE), because by the time a woman finds a lump, it may already be malignant. A self breast exam cannot detect cancer. It can only raise suspicion that something is wrong and should be examined by a physician.

Clinical Breast Exam
A clinician performs a clinical breast exam to female patients to detect any potential abnormal breast texture. This exam is more thorough than a self breast exam since the clinician has more experience detecting abnormal lumps. However, a clinician cannot determine whether a lump is cancerous unless there is a biopsy.

Mammography
A mammography is a screening procedure that detects variation in the density of the breasts and often reveals abnormalities. This is the most advanced non-invasive screening available. However, even a mammography may not necessarily confirm whether there is cancer. This is still considered the gold standard for detection. However, other emerging technology includes breast ultrasound or MRI.

Biopsy
A biopsy is an invasive procedure that removes some or all of the suspected breast tissue for examination. This procedure confirms breast cancer status.

Average or Moderate Risk of Breast Cancer
For women with average or moderate risk for breast cancer, the screening guidelines remain unchanged.
Women, age 20-39, should schedule a clinical breast exam as part of their regular physical check up (about every three years).

Women, age 40 and over are still advised to get a mammogram every year.

High Risk of Breast Cancer
Women with high risk (such as a family history of breast cancer) are recommended to explore the possibility of beginning screening earlier (at age 30, or in rare cases even younger) and more frequently at every six months instead of annually. Another option might be to consider screening with breast ultrasound or MRI in addition to their regular mammogram.

For more information, please contact your physician or you may also review the guidelines from the American Cancer Society.

Sources: American Cancer Society