Dignity Health director of women’s imaging to discuss the importance of mammograms

A recent study revives the argument over mammograms, recommending that yearly mammograms starting at age 40 would prevent the most deaths from breast cancer.

Most groups, including the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-backed panel, acknowledge that screening beginning at age 40 will catch most breast cancers, but screening at this age also produces more false positives.  The American Cancer Society suggests yearly mammograms starting at 45, and moving to every other year at age 55. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening every two years starting at age 50. The new study used data from computer models to compare the benefits and risks of three screening regimens. The model suggested yearly mammograms starting at 40 reduced breast cancer deaths by 40 percent, compared with about 31 percent if all women followed the ACS recommendations and 23 percent if they followed the Task Force.

Dr. Daniel Herron, director of women’s imaging at Mercy Imaging Centers was interviewed by Tina Macuha, anchor for Good Day Sacramento on Saturday, November 18. He will discussed the benefits of getting mammograms and how often, other types of screening besides mammograms; and the prevalence and challenges of dense breasts.  

Click here to watch the live in-studio interview.