| Questions and Answers |
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| Q. When should I start getting mammograms and how often should I have one? |
| A. Mammograms should begin at age 40 and continue annually thereafter, consistent with recommendations by the American Cancer Society and American College of Radiology. |
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| Q. Will the recommendations change insurance coverage? |
A. At this moment no and we’ve heard little to the contrary. There’s no way to predict how private insurance plans will respond. Many companies also base their coverage on recommendations from the private groups, such as the American Cancer Society, which still recommends annual mammograms beginning at age 40.
The task force's recommendations have no direct effect on Medicare coverage of mammograms. That's because Medicare is required by law to cover one screening for women ages 35 to 39, and yearly mammograms after that. Medicare's mammogram coverage can be changed in one of two ways: Congress could pass a new law, or the secretary of Health and Human Services could change coverage, after consulting the head of the National Cancer Institute.
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| Q. Do mammograms prevent cancer? |
| A. No. They just find it early, when it’s too small to cause a noticeable lump or other symptoms. |
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| Q. Do mammograms reduce women’s risk of dying from breast cancer? |
| A. Yes. They reduce it by about 15 percent for women in their 40s and 50s, the task force says. |
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| Q. How can women reduce the risk of breast cancer? |
| A. There’s no way to eliminate the risk of cancer, but research shows women can reduce their risk by limiting their use of alcohol, exercising regularly and maintaining a health weight, according to the American Cancer Society. Breastfeeding for at least several months also reduces the risk, as does avoiding post-menopause hormone therapy. |
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