Mammogram Statistics for Women in their 40s

The Final Summary from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force on Breast Cancer Screening has recommended that the decision to begin screening in your 40s should be an individual decision, weighing the harms and benefits:
"The decision to start screening mammography in women prior to age 50 years should be an individual one. Women who place a higher value on the potential benefit than the potential harms may choose to begin biennial screening between the ages of 40 and 49 years.
For women who are at average risk for breast cancer, most of the benefit of mammography results from biennial screening during ages 50 to 74 years."
We have visualized the data behind this decision to help you decide:

Interactive Graphic Instructions: Hover over the blocks on the bottom to highlight segments, Widths are proportional to the number of patients.

Hover or tap the blocks to highlight on the graph

101

Of the 1000 tests will be positive results.

of the positive results will be actual cancer.

Will not have any breast cancer, a false positive result.

Will undergo an unnecessary biopsy

of false positive patients will undergo additional imaging

Case of cancer will be missed by the mammogram.

For low risk women, this should be a personal decision weighing the risks and benefits.
Risks of mammograms for women in their 40s include false diagnoses, unnecessary biopsies, and overtreatment.
Higher risk patients include those with immediate family members with breast cancer, and will benefit more from early screening.

Downloadable Chart (PNG) - Click to Enlarge