Breast screening from an earlier age

It is important for all women to be breast aware, regardless of their family history. This simply means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, being on the lookout for any unusual changes and getting them checked out by your doctor.

Breast cancer in your family may increase your risk of developing the disease at a younger age. This means you might be able to have breast screening before you reach 50 – the age when you would normally start receiving invites from the NHS.

Breast screening won’t prevent breast cancer, but it may spot the disease before symptoms become detectable through other means.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence – NICE – has produced guidelines for what an individual breast screening plan should look like in England, depending on your family history and whether or not you have an inherited faulty gene.

BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic fault
Faults in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancer genes can increase the risk of breast cancer. If you have a BRCA fault, you should be offered annual MRI scans from age 30 to 49 and mammography as part of your individual breast screening plan. More information on genetic testing

TP53 genetic fault
Faults in a gene called TP53 are rarer than faults in BRCA, but can be associated with breast cancer and some other cancers. If you have a TP53 fault, you should be offered annual MRI scans from age of 20 to 49 and mammography as part of your individual breast screening plan. More information on genetic testing

A strong family history of breast cancer
Annual mammograms from the ages of 40 to 49. Depending on the risk arising from your family history (assessed by a genetics clinic), you may also be offered MRI screening.

A moderate family history of breast cancer
Annual mammograms from the ages of 40 to 49.

A family history of breast cancer aged 50 and above
Once you are over the age of 50, your breast screening plan may change but it will be at least every three years as part of the NHS Breast Screening Programme. More frequent screening may be made available.  If your breast screening plan does change, ask your doctor to explain why.

To learn more about the breast screening available to people with a family history in England, Wales and Scotland, download our free publication The Best Treatment: Your guide to UK services for people with a family history of breast cancer (2397 kb)

If you’re under 50 and are recommended mammography, digital mammography should be offered instead of a standard mammogram where available. Although the procedures are the same, a digital mammogram can be viewed on a computer screen. Younger women generally have denser breast tissue and a digital mammography can make it easier for radiologists to spot changes in the breast that might indicate cancer.

Information last reviewed: 17 March 2011