If you’re a woman approaching 40 or 50, you may have heard conflicting reports on when you need to get a mammogram. For years, the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) have disagreed on this issue. While the ACS maintains breast cancer screenings should begin at age 40, the USPSTF says most women should have their first mammogram at age 50. Today, the caring staff from Hudson Valley Imaging in Monroe, NY, will explain how to navigate this highly contested issue.

The instance of breast cancer in women under 45 is low, affecting only about six in 1,000 women. For that reason, in recent years, both the ACS and the USPSTF have agreed mammograms are usually not necessary in women under 45. Since there are some risks associated with mammograms, doctors generally believe an annual test isn’t necessary for those under 45 unless there’s significant reason to do so—for example, you notice a change in your breast, or your mother had breast cancer at a young age.

But since there’s no medical or scientific consensus on this issue, it will ultimately boil down to your personal preferences. Around age 40 or 45, talk to your doctor about what’s right for you. The two of you can use a calculator to determine your unique breast cancer risk, as well as discuss the benefits of undergoing a mammogram.

If you’re not sure whether it’s time for a mammogram, talk to the expert radiologists from Hudson Valley Imaging. To learn more about their diagnostic imaging services, call a helpful professional today at (845) 220­-2222 or visit the company’s website.