The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released its updated breast cancer screening guidance for average-risk women. 

The following excerpt from the ACOG discusses the new guidelines: 

ACOG's revised guidelines continue to underscore the importance of screening mammography and its role in early detection of breast cancer and consequent reduction in mortality. Among the changes, however, is an emphasis on patient-provider shared decision making to help women make informed, individualized decisions about when to start screening, the frequency of screening and when to end screening.

"Our new guidance considers each individual patient and her values," said Christopher M. Zahn, M.D., ACOG Vice President of Practice Activities. "Given the range of current recommendations, we have moved toward encouraging obstetrician-gynecologists to help their patients make personal screening choices from a range of reasonable options."

Shared Decision-Making

ACOG's updated breast cancer screening guidance promotes a focus on patient autonomy and shared decision making to help women and their ob-gyns decide on an appropriate breast cancer screening strategy from among the range of reasonable options encompassed within published major guidelines. ACOG recommends that women and their ob-gyns engage in a dialogue that includes discussion of the woman's health history; the benefits and harms of screening; and the woman's concerns, priorities, values and preferences about the potential benefits and harms of screening. This patient-centered, individualized approach empowers women to fully consider their breast cancer screening options and take an active and informed role in their health care. 

Benefits and Harms of Screening

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. Regular screening mammography starting at age 40 years reduces breast cancer mortality in average-risk women. Screening, however, also exposes women to potential harms, such as callbacks, anxiety, false-positive results, overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Varying judgments about the appropriate balance of benefits and harms have led to differences among the major guidelines about what age to start, what age to stop and how frequently to recommend mammography screening in average-risk women. The variations between the current screening guidelines have created challenges for both patients and providers in choosing or recommending the most appropriate approach to screening in a particular patient.

Summary of ACOG's Updated Recommendations for Screening Mammography