3 Reasons Why You Should Get Routine Mammograms

The American Cancer Society reports women have about a one-in-eight chance of developing breast cancer within their lifetime. One of the most powerful tools available today in the detection of breast cancer is a mammogram. Getting regular mammograms can lead to early diagnosis, improved treatment options, and better outcomes overall. Recently, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently updated their guidelines to recommend that women start getting mammograms at age 40.

Mammograms have the potential to detect breast cancers long before a lump may even be felt. While they require a bit of pressure to be placed on the breast, they take only minutes to complete. To learn more about why it's important to make time for an annual mammogram, Health Matters interviewed Dr. Lisa Newman, chief of the Section of Breast Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Weill Cornell Medicine.