If you are a woman with an average risk for breast cancer and you are 40 or older, you should be having regular mammograms, according to a University of South Alabama Health radiologist.

This is the new draft recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which had previously suggested 50 as the age to begin breast cancer screenings.

“That has been what we, as radiologists, have recommended for some time, but now we’re all in agreement to start at age 40 to get your annual mammogram,” said Elizabeth Park, a radiologist at USA Health. “Different people have different risk factors, so it’s always a good idea to have a conversation with your doctor to see what they recommend for you individually.”

Park said that much is still being learned about dense breast tissue and its relation to breast cancer.

“We are learning a lot more right now about dense breast tissue and what that means in terms of your risk and how difficult It is to image the breast,” she said. “We may talk to you about additional recommendations for screening that may improve our ability to detect cancer. It all depends on your individual risk.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the country. It is estimated that about 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.

A woman’s risk is determined by multiple factors, including a family history of breast cancer, whether she has had children, her age at the beginning of her menstrual cycle, and many other factors. Women with dense breast tissue may require additional screening.

To schedule a mammogram at USA Health’s Breast Care Center, call 251-415-1660.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.