Are the screening recommendations the same for women with a very strong family history of breast cancer?
Women with a strong family history of breast cancer, or who have family members who are known carriers of BRCA-1 or -2, benefit from a more intense screening schedule that includes an earlier start of screening and shorter screening intervals for clinical breast examination and mammography. Women with strong family histories of breast cancer also may need additional tests such as ultrasound or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The baseline mammography may be started in these women at age 25. The exact age for starting screening mammography depends on the youngest individuals in the families who are affected by breast cancer. It is uncertain how frequently the screening mammography should be performed in women in their 20s and 30s.
