How Various Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Compare

According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States. Screening can help to find cancer at an early stage, when treatment is most effective and cure is more likely. Key professional organizations have published various clinical guidelines regarding when and how often to screen women at average and high-risk for breast cancer. However, their recommendations are not always concordant. The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently released new screening guidelines for average-risk women that have come under some scrutiny. This slideshow highlights the ACP’s updated guidance as well as several other breast cancer screening recommendations from key healthcare organizations and societies.