US experts recommend breast cancer screenings for women in their 40s amid rising diagnoses

The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) made this recommendation in response to a concerning trend: a steady increase in breast cancer diagnoses among women in their 40s. Data from the National Cancer Institute indicates that breast cancer rates for this demographic have been rising by two percent annually since 2015.

According to Wanda Nicholson, Chair of USPSTF, implementing this recommendation could potentially save nearly 20 percent more lives from breast cancer overall. This change is particularly crucial for Black women, who face a significantly higher risk of dying from breast cancer compared to other demographics.

The new guideline also aims to address disparities in breast cancer treatment, especially concerning Black women, who experience higher mortality rates from aggressive forms of the disease at a younger age.

In Europe, the European Commission has also adjusted its recommendations for mammography screenings, lowering the age threshold from 50 to 45 in 2023. However, women aged 40 to 44 without symptoms are not included in these screenings.

Efforts to increase breast cancer screening rates are underway across Europe, with initiatives like Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan aiming to offer screenings to 90 percent of eligible individuals by 2025. Denmark, Finland, and Sweden currently lead in breast cancer screening rates, while countries like Bulgaria, Cyprus, Slovakia, Hungary, and Latvia have lower rates.

The availability of mammography units per 100,000 inhabitants varies across Europe, with countries like Greece and Cyprus having higher rates compared to Germany, France, Romania, and Poland. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed challenges to preventive healthcare and screening programs, impacting data analysis and screening efforts across EU hospitals.