Confused about when to get breast cancer screenings?

Taking charge of your health is important for lowering your risk of breast cancer. But following national recommendations can be confusing because you may notice slight variations to what you read online.

“The American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology are consistent in their guidelines, and the American College of Radiology is the accrediting body for mammography centers in the country,” says Linda Reilman, MD, medical director of Radiology at Fort Hamilton Hospital.

Determining your breast cancer risk level

There are different sets of guide- lines for those who are at average risk of developing breast cancer and those who are considered high-risk.

Women are at higher risk of breast cancer if they have a family history of breast cancer, particularly in the immediate family; if they’ve tested positive for having the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene; or if they’ve had an atypical biopsy in the past. Anyone in this high-risk category needs to start screenings earlier than women with average risk of breast cancer.

Recommendations for highrisk women:

■ Under 25: perform breast self-exams and see doctor once a year for well-woman exam

■ 25-29: continue self-exams and yearly doctor visits; possibly add in breast MRIs

■ 30+: start yearly mammograms, possibly add MRIs and ultrasounds

Dr. Re ilman note s that breast MRIs and ultrasounds can be helpful in women who may have denser breast tissue. These can be incorporated every other year at your health care provider’s discretion.

Screening recommendations

Forwome n who are at average risk of developing breast cancer, the American College of Radiology recommends starting yearly mammograms at age 40. The American Cancer Society says women should have the opportunity to being screening as early as age 40 if they choose.

Recommendations for aver- age-risk women:

■ Under 40: perform breast self-exams and see doctor once a year for well-woman exam

■ 40-44+: begin yearly screening mammograms

■ 75+: talk with your health care provider about continued screenings

Dr. Reilman says that sometimes patients have concerns before the age of 40. “Some people can opt to get a baseline exam between ages 35 to 40, and if everything is normal, we don’t need to screen again until age 40.”

Some guidelin es recommend that mammogram screenings can end at t heageof75.“Ifaw oman is healthy and has a life expectancy of an additional five to ten years, sh e should continue to get mammograms,” advises Dr. Reil- man. “Women should talk with their physicians about the reasonableness of continuing mammography.”

Take charge of your health

“Learn how to do breast selfexams and ask your doctor to help you if you don’t know,” says Dr. Reilman. “Don’t be afraid of what you’re going to find, because many patients catch something at ho me and it ends up saving their life.” Kettering Health Network is af aithbased, not-for-profit healthcare system. The network has eight hospitals: Grandview, Kettering, Sycamore, Southview, Greene Memorial, Fort Hamilton, Kettering Behavioral Health and Soin.