Screening Recommendations

The decision about when to start screening young women should be individualized for each women based upon her risk factors and breast density. Best to discuss with primary physician. The decision about when to start screening young women should be individualized for each women based upon her risk factors and breast density. Best to discuss with primary physician.

If the patient's mother, sister, or mother's sister had breast cancer you should start annual screening mammography 10 years younger than they were when diagnosed. If mother was diagnosed at 37, start annual screening mammography at 27. Even before that, though, the patient should receive a clinical breast exam once a year by her physician. Breast self examination can also be very helpful for individuals who are not freaked out by it. I don't know what the "high risk" factors are in this individual, but I would usually recommend screening ultrasound annually as well. It could be scheduled 6 months after the clinical breast exam so that you are being checked more frequently. If the patient's mother, sister, or mother's sister had breast cancer you should start annual screening mammography 10 years younger than they were when diagnosed. If mother was diagnosed at 37, start annual screening mammography at 27. Even before that, though, the patient should receive a clinical breast exam once a year by her physician. Breast self examination can also be very helpful for individuals who are not freaked out by it. I don't know what the "high risk" factors are in this individual, but I would usually recommend screening ultrasound annually as well. It could be scheduled 6 months after the clinical breast exam so that you are being checked more frequently.