Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States among people who were born female, after skin cancers. About one in eight women will have breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. While white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, Black women are 40% more likely to die from it compared to white women. Men can also get breast cancer, though it is rare: the lifetime risk is one in 726.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recently updated its recommendations for breast cancer screening. The new recommendation states that all women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40. Previously, the recommendation was to start screening at age 50. Screening is commonly done with digital mammography, or mammogram.
Why did the recommendation change? Breast cancer diagnoses among women in their 40s increased by 2% per year between 2015 and 2019. Evidence suggests that earlier screening is more beneficial than the risks of unnecessary biopsies and anxiety. And since Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer, earlier screening could save more lives.
What is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force? The USPSTF is an independent, volunteer panel of national experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine. They routinely review the best available evidence to assess the benefits and harms of preventive services.
Resources and Information on Breast Cancer
The October Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit (ZIP) includes materials that can be shared with your groups.
Download Our Breast Cancer Awareness Toolkit (ZIP)
