Get Your Annual Mammogram

Remember back in 2009 when the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) came out with those controversial new guidelines for getting yearly mammograms? For women in their 40s, they recommended against getting mammograms at all. And for women in their 50s, they recommended a biennial (once every 2 years) mammogram. The idea was that this would save women a lot of worry and hassle over most likely harmless lumps.

Well, researchers at UColorado and UMichigan have found something different. They found that annual mammograms starting at age 40 save 65,000 more women than if mammograms had been done every other year starting at age 50. 

In fact, annual mammograms starting at age 40 reduce mortality risk by 73%!

Sometimes the results of research can be scary. When the task force came out with their recommendations, many people didn't know who to listen to. Here at Moveable Feast, we recommend that you get your annual mammogram - it's better to be safe than sorry!