You just turned 40. Your doctor brought up a mammogram. A friend told you to wait until 45. Something online said 50.
So who’s right?
The answer changed in 2024. If confusing advice has kept you from booking your first screening, you’re not alone. This guide covers the current guidelines, who should start earlier, and how to get a mammogram in Norcross, GA, close to home.
Quick answer: Most women should start mammograms at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a screening mammogram every 2 years from ages 40 to 74. The American College of Radiology recommends one every year starting at 40. Women at higher risk may need to start earlier, so ask your provider for a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25.
What Changed in the 2024 Mammogram Guidelines
For years, the advice for women in their 40s was simply “talk to your doctor.” That changed in April 2024. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) now recommends that all women start screening at 40 and continue every other year through age 74.
The Task Force estimates that starting at 40 could save about 20% more lives from breast cancer. The potential benefit is even greater for Black women, who are more likely to die from the disease.
- American College of Radiology (ACR): every year, starting at 40
- American Cancer Society (ACS): optional yearly screening at 40–44, yearly from 45–54, then every 1–2 years from 55
- USPSTF: every 2 years, from 40 to 74
The simplest takeaway: don’t wait past 40. Then decide with your provider whether yearly or every-other-year screening is right for you.
Who Should Start Breast Cancer Screening Before 40?
The ACR recommends that every woman have a breast cancer risk assessment by age 25. This is especially important for Black women and women of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. Your provider may recommend earlier or additional screening if you have:
- A BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation
- A calculated lifetime breast cancer risk of 20% or higher
- Radiation therapy to the chest at a young age
- A personal history of breast cancer
What If Your Report Says “Dense Breasts”?
Since September 10, 2024, the FDA has required every mammogram report in the U.S. to tell you whether your breast tissue is dense. Dense tissue can make cancer harder to see on a mammogram. If your report says “dense,” ask your provider whether additional imaging makes sense for you. Our article on dense breast tissue and MRI explains the options.
2D vs. 3D Mammogram
A 3D mammogram, also called tomosynthesis, captures images of the breast from multiple angles. Radiologists can then review the tissue in thin layers instead of one flat picture. Our Norcross center uses Hologic 3D mammography equipment. Learn more on our 3D mammography page.
How the Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Compare
| Organization | Start Age (Average Risk) | How Often | When to Stop |
| USPSTF (2024) | 40 | Every 2 years | Continue past 74 unless health limits life expectancy |
| American Cancer Society | 45 (option to start at 40) | Yearly at 45–54; every 1–2 years at 55+ | Continue while in good health with 10+ years of life expectancy |
All three groups agree that regular mammograms save lives. The differences come down to how each one balances catching cancer early against the downsides of screening, such as false alarms that lead to extra tests.
What this looks like at your age:
- 25–39: Ask your provider for a breast cancer risk assessment.
- 40–44: Start screening now. The USPSTF and ACR both say begin at 40
- 45–54: Screen every year (ACR, ACS) or every 2 years (USPSTF)
- 55–74: Screen every 1–2 years.
- 75+: Decide with your provider based on your overall health.
At MRI Imaging Specialist, mammograms are interpreted by board-certified radiologists. Our team includes Dr. Marzieh Thurber, a member of the Society of Breast Imaging with extensive experience in 3D tomosynthesis.
Sensitivity for Detecting Invasive Cancer in Dense Breasts
- Talk to your provider. Confirm the screening schedule that fits your age and risk.
- Call our Norcross center to schedule. Tell the scheduler if you have breast implants or a personal history of breast cancer.
- Bring what you need. Please bring a photo ID, your insurance information and the prescription from your physician to your appointment.
- Dress for comfort. Wear a top and bottom (not a dress) so you only need to undress from the waist up.
- Skip deodorant, lotion, powder, and perfume on your upper body and arms. These products can contain minerals that interfere with your images.
- Tell your technologist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
💡 Tip: If you’ve had mammograms somewhere else, let us know where. Comparing new images to past ones helps radiologists spot changes over time.
⚠️ Warning: A screening mammogram is for women with no symptoms. If you notice a new lump, nipple discharge, skin dimpling, or any other breast change, call your provider right away. Don’t wait for your next routine screening.
After your exam, our radiologists interpret your images and send a report directly to your doctor. Your doctor will communicate the results to you. We offer same-day turnaround for regular readings and 2-hour turnaround for STAT readings.
Mammograms in Norcross, Close to Home
Our Norcross center is at 6760 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Suite 165, Norcross, GA 30071. Jimmy Carter Boulevard connects directly to I-85, Buford Highway, and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, so the drive is easy from across Gwinnett and north DeKalb.
We welcome patients from Norcross, Peachtree Corners, Duluth, Lilburn, Tucker, and Doraville.
Our staff speaks English and Spanish
Sources: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Screening for Breast Cancer: Final Recommendation Statement (April 2024); USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening FAQ (2024); American College of Radiology, Breast Cancer Screening in Women at Higher-Than-Average Risk: Updated Recommendations (Journal of the American College of Radiology, 2023); ACR/SBI Statement on USPSTF Breast Cancer Screening Recommendations (2023); American Cancer Society, Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer; U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Final Rule to Amend the Mammography Quality Standards Act (enforced September 10, 2024).
Schedule Your Mammogram in Norcross
Starting on time is one of the simplest things you can do for your long-term health. If you’re 40 or older, or your provider says you’re at higher risk, book your screening today.
Request an AppointmentNorcross
(678) 969-0904
6760 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Suite 165
Jonesboro
(678) 545-6778
6568 Tara Blvd, Suite B
Gainesville
(678) 989-4566
955-E Interstate Ridge Business Park
Our Jonesboro and Gainesville centers offer other imaging services. Visit our Women’s Imaging Services page to see everything we offer for women.
