When should you get a mammogram to screen for breast cancer? Experts clarify

• The latest breast cancer screening guidance document released by the American College of Physicians has drawn mixed reactions.
• The updated guidelines include changed advice on routine supplemental MRIs or ultrasounds, AI-based mammograms, and screening age.
• The 2026 iteration contradicts previous U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines, which has left many people confused about when to start screening.
• Medical News Today spoke to 2 experts to learn more about when to start breast cancer screening and what methods may be best.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) released a new guidance statement in the Annals of Internal Medicine in April 2026, reigniting debate over breast cancer screening age and frequency.

A comprehensive review by researchers from Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital, published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, also found that current statistical tools used to estimate breast cancer risk may fall short in pinpointing individual risk in women with a family history of the disease.

Currently, there is no international consensus on routine screening mammography, and many major medical and health organizations offer different guidance.

The main point of contention between such practices boils down to a debate of pros versus cons. On one hand, the life-saving benefits of early cancer detection are apparent; however, there is also some concern around overdiagnosis, false positives, patient anxiety, and unnecessary biopsies.

It is important to note that most of the current advice is geared toward women at average risk of breast cancer, namely those without a personal history of breast cancer, high familial risk, or those carrying high-risk genetic mutations.

Medical News Today spoke to the following two experts to get clarity on the best screening age and methods for breast cancer prevention and detection:

• Syed Ahmad Raza, MBBS, FCPS, MRCP (UK), SCE Medical oncology (UK), consultant internal medicine and a medical oncologist.
• And Loren Rourke, MD, MHCM, FACS, board certified breast surgical oncologist.