During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the practice reminds patients that routine screening now begins a decade earlier, and offers risk assessments and screening referrals at its two Jersey City offices.
-- NJ Primary Care is encouraging women in Jersey City and Hudson County to begin routine mammograms at age 40, in line with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation that women at average risk for breast cancer be screened every other year starting at 40. Previous guidance set routine screening at age 50, leaving the decision in a woman's 40s to individual choice and risk factors.
"Starting at 40 gives us a real chance to find breast cancer earlier, when treatment can be less aggressive and often more successful," said Dr. Deval Gadhvi, Medical Director of NJ Primary Care and a breast cancer survivor. "We want every woman approaching 40 to know the guidance has changed and to talk with her physician about getting her first screening on the calendar."
Dr. Gadhvi, who is board certified in internal medicine, brings a personal commitment to the cause. Beyond her practice in Jersey City, she founded "Let's Save Ma," a breast cancer awareness program in the Kutch region of India that has brought a mammogram bus and awareness materials to local schools.
What the guidelines recommend
- Starting age: 40 for women at average risk of breast cancer.
- Frequency: Every other year
- End age: Screening is recommended through age 74. Evidence on the benefits and harms of screening at 75 and older is still under review.
The recommendation applies to people assigned female at birth who are at average risk, including those with a family history of breast cancer or dense breasts. It does not cover people at very high risk, such as those with a personal history of breast cancer or a high-risk genetic mutation like BRCA1 or BRCA2, who should discuss an individualized plan with their physician.
Why the age was lowered
The change is backed by clinical research and data modeling that pointed to three factors:
- Rising cases in younger women. National data show a slow but steady increase in breast cancer diagnoses among women in their 40s. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women.
- More lives saved. Models show that starting screening at 40 instead of 50 could save about 19% more lives.
- Narrowing racial disparities. Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women and are more often diagnosed with aggressive tumors at younger ages. Earlier screening is an important step toward closing that gap.
Weighing benefits and risks
Starting at 40 also means more women may experience false positives, which can lead to follow-up imaging or biopsies and temporary anxiety, and over diagnosis of slow-growing conditions that might never cause harm. The USPSTF concluded that the life-saving benefits of screening from age 40 outweigh these risks.
How NJ Primary Care can help
NJ Primary Care's board-certified primary care physicians help patients:
- Assess personal and family history to determine breast cancer risk.
- Coordinate referrals for screening mammograms at leading imaging facilities in Jersey City.
- Receive clinical breast exams as part of a comprehensive annual physical.
The practice offers online scheduling, same-day appointments at two Jersey City locations:
- Downtown: 200 Hudson Street, Suite 145, Jersey City, NJ 07311 · (201) 241-3769
- Journal Square: 26 Journal Square, Suite 800, Jersey City, NJ 07306 · (551) 292-7675
NJ Primary Care accepts most major health insurance plans, Medicare and NJ State Medicaid (except Amerigroup NJ).
About NJ Primary Care
NJ Primary Care is a Jersey City primary care practice focused on preventive medicine and early detection, delivered in a comfortable, judgment-free environment. Its board-certified physicians and medical team provide compassionate, professional care at offices Jersey City and Journal Square. Services include primary and urgent care, women's health, chronic disease management, medical weight loss, LGBTQIA+ health and travel medicine. Learn more at njprimary.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Deval Gadhvi
Email: Send Email
Organization: NJ Primary Care
Address: 200 Hudson St, Suite 145, Jersey City, NJ 07311
Phone: 2015650818
Website: https://njprimary.com
Release ID: 89204897
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