In March 2020, the Susan G. Komen foundation recommended that women should delay their annual mammograms during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. As hospitals return to providing normal services, it’s important for women who need an annual mammogram or other breast imaging to schedule that appointment.
It might be a year or more before a vaccine for the novel coronavirus exists, and if you have highly invasive breast cancer, that’s time you can’t afford to waste.
Do You Need a Mammogram?
Women between the ages of 45 and 54 need a mammogram every year. Women between the ages of 40 to 44 may want to consider annual mammograms. Women ages 55 and over can switch to every other year or continue yearly exams.
Some women with a history or a family history of breast cancer may need screenings on a more frequent basis and may also need additional breast imaging like MRIs.
Screenings and prevention is the first step to fighting cancer. That’s why the University of Maryland Cancer Network, a system of cancer centers that provides access to national experts close to home, offers screenings at hospitals across the state.
It’s Safe to Get a Mammogram
The University of Maryland Medical System is adhering to best practices by limiting the number of appointments, requiring masks for everyone in the imaging center and cleaning surfaces even more frequently. Your mammogram appointment might seem a little different than last year’s, but it is safe—and important—for most patients to schedule.
See everything we’re doing to keep our patients safe during the pandemic.