American Cancer Society Changes Breast Exam Recommendations

The American Cancer Society is shifting its stance on how often women should get checked for breast cancer.

The organization has been telling women for years to begin getting mammograms at the age of 40 and continue to get checked yearly.

Now the recommendation is to get a mammogram beginning at 45 and be screened every other year after turning 54.

Doctor Carolyn Bruzdzinski, the cancer society’s VP of Health Systems for Michigan, says the new guidelines show mammograms are no longer a one size fits all recommendation.

The organization last updated its guidelines in 2003.