The short explanation
Whether to keep having screening mammograms after about 70 is a decision many women and their doctors make together. Screening programmes in different countries stop routine invitations at different ages, often around 70 to 75, but women in good health may choose to continue. The benefit depends on overall health and how long a woman can expect to live, because screening mainly helps by finding cancers that would cause problems in later years. Any new lump or breast change at any age should be checked, whether or not routine screening has stopped.
What depends on your situation
The parts of this that change from woman to woman. Uncertainty is stated, not hidden.
- Things a doctor weighs: general health, other medical conditions, past mammogram results, family history and personal preference.
- Some women prefer to stop screening to avoid the stress of call-backs and further tests, while others prefer to continue. Both can be reasonable choices.
- Breast cancer risk continues to rise with age, so breast awareness still matters.
What this answer cannot determine
The boundary of online education. These need a clinician who can see you.
- This cannot tell you whether you should continue screening. Your doctor can discuss it with your health and preferences in mind.
Questions for your clinician
Take these with you. You can add any of them to an appointment card.
- Given my health, is continuing screening likely to help me?
- If I continue, how often?
- If I stop, what changes should I watch for?
When to seek help
Clinician-approved guidance for this topic. When in doubt, being seen is never the wrong choice.
Book an appointment soon
- See a clinician within a couple of weeks for any new breast lump or change, at any age.
Raise it at a routine appointment
- Discuss whether to continue screening at your next routine check-up.
Sources
The evidence this explanation is built on.
- Mammograms National Cancer Institute (NIH)
- Mammography MedlinePlus (NIH)
- Breast cancer MedlinePlus (NIH)
Who wrote and reviewed this
Every AskHer answer names its author. A clinically reviewed answer also names the clinician who signed it off — if no clinician is named below, it has not been clinically reviewed.
- Author
- AskHer Editorial (AI-assisted draft) AskHer's editorial team — not an individual clinician Works in English, தமிழ், हिन्दी
- Clinical reviewer
- Nobody yet No clinician has signed this answer off, and no person on the editorial team has read it yet. That is what the “Written with AI assistance” label means. It is queued for an editor to read, and then for a clinician who works in this area. The sources it was drafted against are listed above.
- Review status
- Written with AI assistance — not yet reviewed by a person
- Last reviewed
- Not yet reviewed by a person
- Version
- 1
Correction history
Substantive changes are listed, not quietly edited away.
No corrections have been made since this answer was first published.
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