How Often Should You Get a Mammogram? Guidelines for Every Age

Regular mammograms are essential for early detection of breast cancer, often identifying the disease before symptoms appear. Early detection significantly improves treatment outcomes and survival rates for patients by as much as 99% if caught at its earliest localised stages.

In Your 20s and 30s Building Awareness & Consistency

Routine mammograms are not typically recommended for women under 40 unless they are considered high-risk patients for breast cancer. However, building a basic awareness of your breast health is crucial during this stage of life. Women in their 20s and 30s are advised to undergo a clinical breast exam performed by a healthcare provider every 1–3 years.

Breast Health Awareness

Knowing what’s normal for your breasts can help you detect unusual changes, such as lumps, pain, or discharge. Report any abnormalities to your doctor immediately. Being aware of what’s normal for your body will lay the foundation for regular consistent health checks later in your life making this process feel less like a task and more like routine.

Building Healthy Habits

Essentially, this early stage is all about establishing healthy habits, such as performing a basic check of your breast health at home through self-examination checks. Routine mammograms are not strictly necessary for women in this age group. This is because, for younger patients, breast tissue is generally denser, which can make cancers harder to detect or produce false positive results.

Ages 40–49: Starting Regular Mammograms

For most women, the 40s mark is the start of regular mammograms. However, the decision to begin screening at this age should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider, considering your personal risk factors.

This is because some women are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer than others, meaning these women might be advised more regular mammograms by their doctor than patients with a regular level of risk.

Frequency of Mammograms at Ages 40-49

A good rule of thumb for women at an average risk is generally to have a mammogram every 1–2 years during their 40s however, follow the advice of your doctor if advised differently as this frequency can change based on the nature of each different individual patient’s case scenario.

Considerations for High-Risk Women

Those with a family history of breast cancer or other risk factors may need to start screening earlier and more frequently. For these cases being able to do a basic self-examination at home is important as well to enhance the safety net of early detection and make sure you’re on top of your breast health.

Ages 50–74: Maintaining Regular Screenings

This age group is the primary target for routine mammograms, as studies show that regular screening significantly reduces breast cancer mortality.

Frequency Mammograms at Ages 50–74

Women between 50 and 74 should have a mammogram every 1–2 years, depending on their health status and personal preferences.

Importance of Consistency

Consistent screening helps detect cancer early when it is most treatable. As with most things in life, consistency is everything. This is why we stress the importance of building a habit of consistent breast health checks early on so that patients become more aware of their breast health as time passes.

Age 75 and Older: Screening Based on Health Status

For women over 75, the decision to continue mammograms depends on overall health, life expectancy, and personal preferences.

Consult Your Doctor

If you are in good health and have a life expectancy of 10 years or more, regular screenings may still benefit you even at the later stages of your life.

Individualised Approach

Women with serious health conditions or limited life expectancy may choose to stop routine screening.

Special Considerations for High-Risk Individuals

If you have a family history of breast cancer, a genetic mutation such as BRCA1 or BRCA2, or underwent chest radiation therapy at a young age, your screening schedule will differ from the general guidelines.

General Tips for All Ages

Know Your Risk: Discuss your family history and lifestyle with your doctor to determine your breast cancer risk level.

Stick to Your Schedule: Missing routine mammograms can delay the detection of breast cancer, reducing treatment options.

Choose Accredited Facilities: Opt for mammograms performed at certified imaging centres with experienced radiologists. Luckily this is the easy part as our team of certified radiographers is on site ready to take you through the process of your mammogram.

Why Regular Mammograms Matter

Mammograms are the gold standard for detecting breast cancer early, often before symptoms develop. Early detection not only improves treatment outcomes for patients but can also save lives at a much higher rate than if breast cancer is detected in the mid to late stages. If you’re due for a mammogram, don’t delay. Take control of your breast health by scheduling an appointment with our team of skilled radiographers at MBR.