New breast cancer screening guidelines: What you need to know

The average American woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer during her lifetime, but the risk is significantly higher for some women. That’s why the American College of Radiology issued new guidelines encouraging all women – particularly Black and Ashkenazi Jewish women – to have their risk for breast cancer assessed by age 25 to determine if they need to start regular breast cancer screening earlier than 40, the age recommended for women at average risk for the disease. “Helping younger women understand their risk may help them change their lifestyles,” says Tidelands Health breast surgeon Dr. Craig Brackett, medical director of the health system’s breast health program. “They know someone is looking out for them.” A number of different factors can influence a woman’s predisposition for breast cancer. Black women, for example, are more likely to die from the disease due to a variety of...