Group: Start mammograms at age 40

An influential task force is recommending that women begin mammograms at 40 and screen every other year for breast cancer until they are 74.

Released Tuesday, the Preventive Services Task Force’s updated guidance said women with an average risk for breast cancer should begin screening at 40 rather than 50.

The task force said medical evidence drawn from studies suggests every-other-year screening of breast tissue provides a “moderate net benefit” for women up to age 74.

The task force previously said women in their 40s should make an individual decision with their doctor.

However, the task force said there isn’t sufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for women 75 and older.

It also did not endorse supplemental screening methods such as ultrasounds or MRIS for women with dense breast tissue.

Doctors should use their judgment about ordering screening for those populations, the task force said.

The task force reviewed several large medical studies to conclude the “net benefits” of screening every two years outweighed the risks.