19% More Lives Could Be Saved If Women Are Screened For Breast Cancer At A Younger Age, Recommendation Says
ForbesAPR 2023
US Panel says Breast Cancer Screenings Should Start at Age 40
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The Spin
Narrative A
Breast cancer diagnoses among younger women are on the rise. Changing the recommendations for the age women should start getting mammograms will help doctors catch cancer early, and save lives.
Narrative B
Lowering the recommended age that women should undergo mammograms could lead to overdiagnoses of breast cancer and unnecessary medical intervention. The likelihood of false positive mammogram results are higher in younger women, and it may prompt a need for additional testing that can be expensive or invasive.