As a result, NCI will recommend that:

• Women in their 40s should be screened every one to two years with mammography.

• Women aged 50 and older should be screened every one to two years.

• Women who are at higher than average risk of breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about whether they should begin screening before age 40 and the frequency of screening.

The board also stated that because of mammography's limitations, it is important that a clinical breast examination by a health care provider be included as part of regular, routine health care. NCI will include that statement in its recommendations.

Richard Klausner, M.D., NCI director, expressed his gratitude to the board for coming to closure on the issue quickly and for helping to bring clarity to this important issue. He said the board also made important recommendations for future research on breast cancer screening and education, and that NCI would address those research recommendations.

Klausner said the institute will immediately begin to develop new educational materials to communicate the screening recommendations and to help women and health professionals determine an individual's breast cancer risk. He said that NCI also will work with the American Cancer Society, other government agencies, advocacy organizations, cancer centers, and other groups to educate the public and health professionals about the benefits, limitations, and risks of screening mammography.

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