Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that among 609 confirmed breast cancer deaths, 29% were among women who had mammograms and 71% were among women who did not have the screening test. Now, see what they found when they looked at the ages of these women: 13% of the breast cancer victims were 70 years of age or older and 50% of the breast cancer deaths occurred in women who were under the age of 50. What’s more: the median age at diagnosis was 49! “The fact that 71% of the women who died were women who were not participating in screening clearly supports the importance of early detection,” said co-author Daniel Kopans, MD, of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital in a prepared statement. No matter what your age, talk to your doctor about scheduling a mammogram. Your health shouldn’t be on a timetable. More from Prevention: 12 Myths To Ignore AboutBreast Cancer
