It's About Time! New Mammogram Guidelines Echo Fox Chase’s Longstanding Recommendations

• New Guidelines Confirm What We’ve Always Said: Annual Mammograms Starting at 40 Saves Lives.

  At Fox Chase Cancer Center, we’ve long recommended that women at average risk for breast cancer start getting annual mammograms at age 40. Now, starting in May 2024, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has lowered its own recommendations on beginning breast cancer screenings from 50 to 40.  

  Mammograms are an effective way to find breast cancer in its early stages, which is when treatment works best. Beginning screenings at 40 will help more women start treatment sooner—and save lives.  

  However, Fox Chase still recommends getting screened every year, rather than every two years - which is what the USPSTF still advises.  

  Why Annual Mammograms Matter

  Fox Chase follows the American College of Radiology’s (ACR) breast cancer screening recommendations, which include a breast cancer risk assessment at age 25 and annual mammograms starting at age 40 for women at average risk (those at higher risk may need to start screenings sooner).

  “The ACR did not change their guidelines when the USPSTF did,” said Richard J. Bleicher, MD, FACS. “As a group, the Fox Chase Breast Cancer clinical team decided to follow ACR guidelines because our interpretation of the published data has been that annual screenings do still provide the maximum benefit.”

  Dr. Bleicher explained that lengthening the interval between screenings reduces the opportunity to detect fast-growing, aggressive cancers, potentially leading to worse outcomes. “Annual mammograms can significantly enhance survival rates, reducing the risk of dying from breast cancer by nearly 40%”, added Claire L. Streibert, MD.

  Why You Should Schedule Your Next Mammogram at Fox Chase

  Fox Chase’s mission goes so much farther than just treating cancer... It’s home to cancer prevention services, breast screening experts and state-of-the-art 3D mammogram technology, which may have some advantages over standard mammograms. At Fox Chase, your mammogram will be reviewed by experienced experts.

  “Our team at Fox Chase includes dedicated, fellowship-trained breast imagers who specialize in reading all types of breast imaging,” Dr. Streibert said. "It is rare to find this level of specialized training and expertise in most hospital and imaging center radiologists. This allows us to provide the highest level of care and give our patients the best chance for a positive outcome."

  Where You Start Matters

  “Where you start your care matters,” Dr. Bleicher said. “At Fox Chase, we often find issues that other institutions may miss, which need further investigation. Our evaluations change the treatment plan almost 20% of the time. If the evaluation and treatment aren’t done in the right order, it can limit the effectiveness of the treatment.”

  Schedule Your Mammogram Today

  “Most mammograms don’t result in a cancer diagnosis, but if you do receive one, starting your journey at Fox Chase can significantly improve your treatment outcomes.

  ‘The more you engage with a disease, the better you become at detecting and managing it,’ says Bleicher. “Our experience here is unmatched, and it makes a real difference in care.”  

  To schedule your breast cancer screening at Fox Chase, call 888-369-2427 or request an appointment online.