Volgograd oncologist told about the age threshold for mammography
Breast cancer can hide: it does not choose age and often develops asymptomatically
Olga Marsova, an oncologist at Volgograd City Polyclinic No. 2, explains how to build protection against the disease - and why "I will wait until next year" does not work here.
“There is no clear age limit for this diagnosis,” the doctor said. We face the disease in adult women and very young girls. And the most insidious moment is the preclinical stage: there are no symptoms yet, and the tumor is already growing.
Screening begins with an appointment with a specialist: the doctor palpates the mammary glands and fixes risk factors - from the age of onset of menstruation to chest injuries and family histories of oncology. The route is built individually.
If the patient is under 36 years old, the main instrument is ultrasound. It can and should be done once a year, starting from 20 years, and the best time for the procedure is 4-11 days of the cycle. After 36 years, mammography comes to the fore: up to 50 years it is enough to take place every two years, and after 50 – every year.
Those at risk need a tighter schedule: ultrasound every 6 months and annual mammograms starting at age 30. And if the family has already had a case of breast cancer, it makes sense to do a DNA test for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. This is not a sentence, but an opportunity to act ahead of time: if you identify a risk, the doctor will offer a clear plan of observation.
Sometimes tests for tumor markers (CA 15 3, REA), hormonal profile and cytology of secretions are added to the base list. All these studies are prescribed strictly according to indications - their goal is not to scare, but to accurately assess the condition and notice changes in time.
Every woman’s story is unique, but the rule is one: health care is about regular visits to the doctor, not waiting for symptoms. If you still have questions or want to understand which route will suit you personally, you should make an appointment with a mammologist: in the system of the city clinic, such techniques are available and do not require complex approvals.
