While breast cancer screening guidelines may differ a little - American Cancer Society suggests annual breast exams beginning at age 40 and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends breast exams every other year beginning at age 50 and possibly earlier depending on circumstances - what most have in common is that they are based on women's age.

A new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine in July 2011 challenges the notion that breast screenings should be based on age. The study suggests that risk factors such as breast density, family history breast cancer, a woman's history of breast biopsy, and personal views about the risks and benefits of screens should be taken into consideration to develop a screening schedule tailored to each individual woman. The study found that it was not "cost effective" to conduct breast cancer screenings as regularly as current guidelines recommend - this takes into account the toll that "false positives" take on women.

One "concern" of undergoing frequent breast exams is the possibility of receiving a "false positive" diagnosis of breast cancer. Misdiagnosis of breast cancer can lead to unnecessary treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. In some cases, women may experience breast disfigurement from surgery or needlessly undergo mastectomies after being falsely diagnosed with breast cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime - about a 12 percent chance of being diagnosed. As such, women should not deviate from their current breast exam schedule without first talking to their doctors about the benefits and risks of doing so.

Source: http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medical/breastcancer/story/2011/07/Mammogram-schedule-should-be-customized-study-finds/49213544/1