Screening For Breast Cancer
- New Zealand journalist Indira Stewart is sharing her nine-month breast cancer treatment journey, including chemotherapy, treatment-induced menopause and a mastectomy, while urging eligible women not to delay their mammograms.
- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women with average breast cancer risk begin screening mammograms every two years starting at age 40, a guideline the organization updated in 2024, lowering the recommended starting age from 50.
- It’s important to note that women with the BRCA gene mutation, who have a family history of cancer, or who have dense breasts are at higher risk and should talk with their doctor about when to begin screening. It may be younger than 40.
- The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women ages 45 to 54. At 55, the organization advises women switch to a mammogram every other year, though women in this age group who want added reassurance can still choose to get annual mammograms.
- Women with dense breasts are at higher risk for developing breast cancer because dense breast tissue can hide potential cancer during screening. 3D mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, and molecular breast imaging are options for women with dense breasts for more precise screening. It’s important to ask your doctor about your breast density and cancer risk.
Stewart, an award-winning Tongan-Fijian New Zealand journalist and beloved mom, shared news of her diagnosis on social media alongside a compilation of video clips documenting her nine-month treatment journey, including footage of her smiling during a photo shoot before starting chemotherapy.
Read MoreRELATED: Preventing Hair Loss During Chemotherapy: Scalp-Cooling Devices
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After admitting she never expected to experience treatment-induced menopause or undergo a mastectomy — the surgical removal of one breast — at her age, Stewart says she is now embracing her “new boob.”
“I’m still doing chemo, along with other treatment. The journey feels long but I feel lucky and grateful,” she concluded.
“This is a reminder to get checked fam, get your mammogram if you’re eligible and don’t put it off.”
“Stewart, who has continued working whenever possible throughout her cancer treatment, also said that “storytelling can be healing.”
Stewart was applauded for her strength and ability to work amid treatment by fellow social media users, with one commenting, “You look beautiful and it was great seeing you on the telly the other day. I just had my last chemo yesterday unfortunately no cold cap for me but I am grateful to the team I’m under – another chapter in the journey of life. Lots of love – you got this.”
Another wrote, “You are truly amazing we would have never guessed your care, love you show to everyone around you when you yourself are traveling such a hard road. You are a true queen and we are forever grateful to have shared time with you.”
A third commenter praised her character and talent, calling her a beautiful person inside and out and admiring the way she opens her heart to those around her.
“You have such an incredible gift for telling powerful and empowering stories for our people and our communities. I have so much respect for all that you do and the way you continue to use your talent to uplift those around you,” the comment read.
When to Screen for Breast Cancer
Guidance on mammograms varies slightly by organization, which can cause confusion among patients, but we’re here to help.
In April 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) updated its recommendation, advising all women at average risk to get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing through age 74 — a change from its 2016 guidance, which set the starting age at 50.
Expert Resources On Mammograms
- 6 Common Excuses for Skipping a Mammogram That You Need to Stop Using!
- I Have Dense Breasts. Do I Need a 3D Mammogram?
- How to Avoid False Positive Cancer Results in Women With Dense Breasts: Ultrasounds Used in Addition To Mammograms
- Mammogram That Sees the Future: AI Tool Now Officially Part of Breast Cancer Screening Standards and Experts Say Can Help Detect ‘the Likelihood of a Tumor In Five Years’
- New Guidelines Say Many Women Under 50 Can Skip Mammograms. That May Not Be The Best Advice
- The Mammogram Debate: Should Women Start Breast Cancer Screening at 30?
- When You’re Called Back After a Mammogram: Breaking Down the Numbers
- When You’re Getting a Mammogram, Ask About Dense Breasts
- When Should I Get a Mammogram?
The USPSTF said moving the starting age to 40 could save roughly 19% more lives, and noted that Black women face a 40% higher breast cancer mortality risk than white women, a disparity the earlier guidelines didn’t address.
The American Cancer Society’s guidance is close but not identical: annual mammograms starting at 45, moving to every other year (or annual, if preferred) starting at 55.
Screening For Breast Cancer
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, a BRCA mutation, chest radiation before age 30, early menstruation (before 12), or dense breast tissue are considered higher risk and may need to start screening earlier—however, that conversation should happen with a doctor rather than by following a general guideline.
Getting a Mammogram to Screen for Breast Cancer
Dr. Connie Lehman, the chief of the Breast Imaging Division at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasizes in an earlier interview how mammograms save lives. She says, “If you haven’t gone through menopause yet, I think it’s very important that you have a mammogram every year. We know that cancers grow more rapidly in our younger patients, and having that annual mammogram can be lifesaving.”
“After menopause, it may be perfectly acceptable to reduce that frequency to every two years,” says Dr. Lehman. “But what I’m most concerned about is the women who haven’t been in for a mammogram for two, three, or four years, those women that have never had a mammogram. We all agree regular screening mammography saves lives.”
Survivors Encourage Women to Ask Their Doctors About Dense Breasts
Regular Self-Exams Are Helpful In Between Mammograms
A self-breast exam is an easy way to monitor your breasts for abnormalities. It involves feeling the breast for swelling, bulging, or changes in the shape of the breast or nipple.
WATCH: How to perform a self-exam.
Checking for signs of redness, rashes, or discharge is also part of this exam. If anything is found that is concerning, you should contact your doctor. It’s important to note that self-exams should be done with regular mammograms.
Deciding When to Work or Step Back Amid Cancer Treatment
“We always encourage people to continue to work if they can,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center. “I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”
If you can work, you’ll be busy, and you may not be worrying about how your treatment is going, Stapleton adds.
Cancer can be isolating, so being around coworkers can help ease that loneliness — but it’s important to talk with your doctor first about what you can and can’t do, so work doesn’t disrupt your treatment.
Cancer treatment can also cause fatigue, leaving you unable to fulfill your duties as you once could. Fortunately, some on-the-job accommodations can make working during cancer treatment a little easier.
It’s important to remember that people with job problems related to cancer are protected by the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act. Others may also benefit from the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law allows many people with serious illnesses to take unpaid leave to get medical care or manage their symptoms.
Your human resources department should be able to share with you your options.
In some situations, employers must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show it would be an undue hardship to do so. This could mean making changes to work schedules, equipment, or policies.
WATCH: Will my cancer get me fired?
Laurie Ostacher, a behavioral health clinician at Stanford Health Care, recommends cancer patients talk with their employer about accommodations they may need upon returning to work.
“Patients need to let their employer know [they’re] going to need some flexibility… Because there are going to be days when you’re not as energetic or feeling as well as other days,” Ostacher explained.
When some of these benchmarks cannot be met because you’re struggling with treatment side effects or your treatment schedule interferes with your work schedule, perhaps stepping back from work or reducing your work schedule may be ideal.
Ultimately, you should remain in constant communication with your care team about your plans to work – or not – as that can factor into your overall treatment regimen.
Leading Experts Urge Us to Be Proactive
“If I had any advice for you following a cancer diagnosis, it would be, first, to seek out multiple opinions as to the best care,” National Cancer Institute Chief of Surgery Steven Rosenberg told us in a previous interview, “because finding a doctor who is up to the latest of information is important.”
As highlighted in several areas of SurvivorNet, highly respected doctors sometimes disagree on the right course of treatment, and advances in genetics and immunotherapy are creating new options. Also, in some instances the specific course of treatment is not clear cut. That makes it even more important to understand the possible approaches to treating your disease.
At the National Cancer Institute, there is a patient referral service that will “guide patients to the right group depending on their disease state so that they can gain access to these new experimental treatments,” Rosenberg says.
Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
Additionally, seeking a second opinion can help you avoid potential doctor biases. For example, some surgeons own radiation treatment centers. “So there may be a conflict of interest if you present to a surgeon that is recommending radiation because there is some ownership of that type of facility,” Dr. Jim Hu, director of robotic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical Center, tells SurvivorNet.
More reasons to obtain a second opinion include:
- To see a doctor who has more experience treating your type of cancer
- You have a rare type of cancer
- There are several ways to treat your cancer
- You feel like your doctor isn’t listening to you, or isn’t giving you good advice
- You have trouble understanding your doctor
- You don’t like the treatment your doctor is recommending, or you’re worried about its possible side effects
- Your insurance company wants you to get another medical opinion
- Your cancer isn’t improving on your current treatment
RELATED: Be Pushy, Be Your Own Advocate, Says Leading Expert
Ultimately, being proactive about your health can be a matter of life or death. The more you learn—and the more expert perspectives you gather—the more confident you can be that you’ve done everything possible to take control of your health.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
If you have a breast cancer screening coming up or have recently had one, you may have questions you want answered. SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” is designed specifically for patients and caregivers.
WATCH: How One Cancer Survivor and Her Sister Used “My Health Questions” to Navigate Care
This powerful resource is embedded across the SurvivorNet website and delivers structured responses grounded in clinical guidelines and medically reviewed research to help people better understand their treatment options and feel more confident navigating care.
My Health Questions can also help patients come up with useful questions ahead of their next appointment.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
