Arkansas breast cancer survivor, medical expert react to new breast cancer screening recommendations
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new guideline by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends that women of average risk begin getting checked for breast cancer every other year starting at the age of 40.
Doctors say this change is meant to address the jump in the number of cases among women in their 40s over the last few years. According to the National Cancer Institute, the rate of breast cancer among women ages 40 to 49 increased by 2% per year from 2015 to 2019.
Mammograms should start earlier amid rising breast cancer rates, panel says
Dr. Stacy Smith-Foley with CARTI Breast Center is now urging women to get their annual mammograms.
“When we can detect breast cancer when it’s small and early a woman is almost sure of a cure,” Foley-Smith said.
She said the earlier the detection of breast cancer the better, a piece of advice that changed Anne Eldridge’s life.
“It was invasive ductal carcinoma,” Eldridge said.
She said the cancer was discovered this past November, four years outside of her annual screenings.
“I had two spots so I mean if I wasn’t getting my annual mammograms then I could have had more,” Eldrige said.
CARTI mammography technologist talks about her own breast cancer battle
Eldridge is now a breast cancer survivor, and she says she knew it wouldn’t be possible without early detection, now she’s advising women to, “Prioritize getting your annual mammograms.”
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