When Do Women Need a Mammogram? New Guideline Tries to Clarify

MONDAY, April 8, 2019 -- A group representing U.S. family doctors issued updated mammography guidelines Monday, adding to an ongoing debate over how early and how often women should be screened.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) now recommends a mammogram every other year for women ages 50 to 74 who are at average risk for breast cancer and have no symptoms.

Surgery May Boost Outcomes in Common Form of Advanced Breast Cancer

TUESDAY, April 2, 2019 -- A new study may help resolve a longstanding debate around the impact of surgery for a common form of advanced breast cancer.

The study found that mastectomy may indeed boost the chances of survival for women with stage 4 (advanced) HER2-positive breast cancer.

FDA Says Breast Density Must Be Reported to Women During Mammograms

WEDNESDAY, March 27, 2019 -- Women with dense breasts who get mammograms must be told of their higher risk for breast cancer under new rules proposed Wednesday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA would also tighten its regulation of mammogram facilities, giving the agency the power to notify patients if problems are found at a center so that repeat mammograms can be done at another certified center.

Scientists Spot Clues to Predicting Breast Cancer's Return

WEDNESDAY, March 13, 2019 -- Figuring out which breast cancer patients will live disease-free after treatment is a bit of a guessing game. But new research indicates breast cancer cells hold molecular clues that may allow doctors to predict who is at high risk of having a recurrence up to 20 years later.

It has long been known that women who are successfully treated for breast cancer can still face a substantial risk of a recurrence years later. But there's no way to zero in on which women are at high risk, and which are unlikely to see the cancer come back.