A federal task force in the United States is proposing that women should start getting mammograms every other year at age 40, according to a draft recommendation. The proposal marks a shift in the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force’s guidelines, which had previously recommended that women start breast cancer screening as young as 40, but recommended they get the X-ray exams every two years from age 50 through 74.

The task force noted that Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, making mammograms at 40 an important step. However, the task force also urged more research to better understand and combat the disparity. The draft recommendation applies to women at average risk of breast cancer but not those at very high risk due to certain genetic or other factors.

Breast cancer remains the second leading cancer killer of U.S. women, behind lung cancer. While breast cancer deaths have been declining for years, health organizations have long had different screening recommendations, balancing the need to catch breast cancer early while avoiding too many false alarms.

The American Cancer Society recommends that women ages 45 to 54 should get mammograms every year, but can choose to start at 40 and then switch to every other year at age 55. The American College of Radiology recommends annual mammograms starting at 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer but urges that young women get assessed for risk factors that require even earlier screening.

Nearly half of all women have dense breasts, which means mammograms may not work as well and may require additional testing. The task force has called for more research into whether additional types of testing would be helpful. The draft recommendation is open for public comment through June 5, after which the task force will decide whether to finalize it.

Former task force chair Dr. Carol Mangione stated that the new recommendation will help save lives and prevent more women from dying due to breast cancer. However, the proposed guidelines are likely to continue to cause confusion among health groups, as they have differing opinions on when and how often to screen.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is proposing that women should start getting mammograms every other year at age 40. The task force noted that Black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women, making mammograms at 40 an important step. The draft recommendation is open for public comment through June 5, after which the task force will decide whether to finalize it. The proposed guidelines are likely to continue to cause confusion among health groups, as they have differing opinions on when and how often to screen.