This Is the Best Way to Screen for Breast Cancer

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American women, aside from skin cancer, with about one in eight women facing the disease in their lifetime. According to Kimberly Bickell MD, PIH Health diagnostic radiologist, “The best defense against breast cancer is to find it early, when it is most treatable.”

Early detection is crucial, and routine mammograms play a key role. “Mammograms are still the best way to detect breast cancer early,” Dr. Bickell explains. These non-invasive tests can find cancer before a lump is felt or symptoms appear, and low-dose X-rays can identify changes in breast tissue that may develop into cancer later.

For women at average risk of breast cancer—those without a strong family history, genetic mutations like BRCA, or previous breast cancer—the American College of Radiology recommends the following screening schedule:

• Ages 40 and Older: Annual mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and should continue as long as the woman is in good health. This consistent, annual screening approach is vital, as breast cancer risk increases with age, and regular screenings help detect cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.

Women at high risk—those with a BRCA gene mutation, a strong family history of breast cancer, a personal history of the disease, or those who had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30—may need to start annual mammograms at age 30. They might also need a breast MRI each year, but Dr. Bickell emphasizes, “Mammograms are still considered the gold standard of breast cancer screening.”

Though self-exams and clinical breast exams are helpful for familiarizing yourself with any changes in your breasts, Dr. Bickell advises, “The best way to screen for breast cancer is to get mammograms according to the guidelines based on your age and risk.”

Schedule your mammogram today at PIHHealth.org/Mammogram.