Women should have mammograms earlier in life, experts say [Video]

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – Breast cancer rates among young women in their 40’s are on the rise.

To help catch breast cancer earlier, the United States Preventive Task Force released a new guideline saying women should start having mammogram screenings at age 40 instead of 50.

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

“What we’ve found out is that breast cancer that develops before menopause tends to be more aggressive, meaning there’s a higher chance it may have spread to the lymph nodes, and that’s a very important reason to lower the screening age,” said Christine Zhang, who is an Oncologist at Kaiser.

Changing the age from 50 years old to 40 is sending a strong message to the medical community and the public, emphasizing the benefits of early detection.

Zhang says breast cancer is the second leading cause …