The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force now recommends women who are at average risk for breast cancer get screening mammograms every two years starting at age 40. The recommendation is in response to the increase in breast cancer diagnoses in younger women and high mortality rates in Black women.
Women with strong family histories of breast cancer, African Americans and those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent should have a risk assessment at age 30 to see if a screening mammogram is needed before they are 40. Women who were previously diagnosed with breast cancer are recommended to be screened with magnetic resonance imaging, an MRI.
“The best chance for survival of any cancer is early diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr. Carla Branch.
“Mammograms can detect cancer before any symptoms, such as a lump, or spreading of the disease occurs, which can increase the likelihood of recovery.”
Here in Georgia, 8,181 new female breast cancer cases were reported in 2020, the most recent year data is available.
Someone with inside knowledge told me something about Dr Branch that I’ll never forget…
Her classmates at MCG voted her as the ‘Doctors doctor’. That means all the MDs in training with her at the time would like her to take care/diagnose of them if they were sick.
I can hardly imagine a higher compliment from your peers.