SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms for women starting at the age of 40.
Avera’s Director of Breast Health, Jill Schultz, advises women to not skip screenings. Schultz says with a history of screenings doctors can detect small changes in breast tissue signaling potential problems.
Schultz says if cancer is diagnosed when it’s localized, the five-year survival rate is 99 percent.
Most health care plans cover a screening mammogram each year for women age 40 and over. Catching breast cancer in it's earliest stages can save patients the trouble of going through more extensive treatment such as chemotherapy.