US health panel recommends women to get biennial mammograms starting at age 40

Women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40, according to draft recommendations released Tuesday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Previously, women were recommended to start getting mammograms at the age of 50 and consider receiving mammograms from ages 40-49 based on personal risk.

More than 12% of U.S. women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, according to the National Cancer Institute. Officials estimate that more than 43,000 women will die from breast cancer in 2023.

The goal of mammograms is to catch cancer while it is still easier to treat with surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. 

The public is invited to comment on the recommendation until June 6.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.