The appearance of breast cancer becomes prevalent with age. Mammography and breast imaging techniques also expose women to very small amounts of radiation, similar to X-rays. Therefore, how often a woman should undergo screening depends upon her overall health and age.
Different cancer networks and medical experts follow different guidelines for which ages and how often the individual should receive a mammography. The American Cancer Society recommends that all women receive breast imaging starting at age 45, and every year after that until the age of 55. So long as the individual remains in optimal health, you can begin screening every 2 years.
These guidelines are based upon otherwise good health conditions. If you begin to experience any changes in your health or have any other risk factors, your doctor may recommend that you receive breast cancer screenings more frequently. As with any form of medical imaging, your doctor will only use techniques that expose you to safe amounts of radiation, and will only recommend an increase in testing if the images could help protect your health and your life.