Mammograms for Younger Women

The number of breast cancer patients is rising, but the age of newly diagnosed women is dropping. Breast cancer is claiming more lives at a younger age and some say that the recommended age to get a mammogram should be changed.

This comes after the Journal of the American Medical Association released new findings from a study on Tuesday. They found that between 1976 to 2009, breast cancer among women aged 25 to 39, has increasingly led to more advanced diseases.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, the American Cancer Society's deputy chief medical officer, said that while the study is accurate, she does not think all younger women should be given mammograms since breast cancer is still rare among their age group. He also said that childbearing styles can be a factor for younger women with cancer.

Mammograms are recommended for older women, but younger women such as myself are not given mammograms until around 40 years old.

I think that the fact that some women have a family history of breast cancer, mammograms should be given to younger women. Also, women who have been diagnosed with cysts in their breasts should also be given mammograms because not all women check their breasts every day. Most breast cancer is detected by a doctor.