As a response to new breast cancer screening guidelines shared by the American College of Physicians (ACP), the American Society of Radiologic Technologists (ASRT) has issued a statement reaffirming its belief that women should undergo annual screening using mammography beginning at the age of 40.
The ACP’s guidelines called for average-risk women with no symptoms to undergo screening with mammography every other year, beginning at the age of 50
“Breast cancer death rates declined 40% from 1989 to 2016 among women,” according to the ASRT statement. “The progress is attributed to improvements in early detection.”
In the statement, the ASRT also recommended that women perform self-exams every month beginning at the age of 20. In addition, the group wrote, women should obtain clinical breast exams every three years between the ages of 18 and 39 and annually once they turn 40.
The American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging issued a response to the ACP recommendations on April 8, noting that they could result “in up to 10,000 additional, and unnecessary, breast cancer deaths in the United States each year.”
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.