Experts Push for Personalized Approach to Mammogram Screening

Washington, D.C. (KFMO) - For decades, standard advice has been for women to begin mammograms at age 40 and continue with yearly screenings. But a growing body of research suggests a more personalized approach may be better.

The WISDOM trial, one of the largest studies of its kind, divided participants into groups based on factors including family history, breast density, and genetic information. Screening schedules were then tailored to each woman’s level of risk. High-risk women received mammograms and MRIs more frequently, average-risk women had standard schedules, and the lowest-risk women sometimes delayed the start of their screenings.

Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, says personalized screening can help reduce unnecessary procedures for low-risk women while ensuring high-risk women are monitored more closely.

Despite these findings, Dr. Gounder emphasizes that women should still get their first mammogram as soon as possible and discuss individual risk factors with their healthcare provider. 

Personalized screening is not a replacement for vigilance but a way to make cancer detection more precise and effective.