HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – It was reported this week that the recommended age for breast cancer screening has been lowered to 40 years old for most women.

Radiologist Dr. Emily Ritchie with Sentara RMH says by lowering the recommended age, it will have a tremendous impact on women.

“I definitely think that there are so many women are diagnosed at 40 and who are in their 40s and if we are able to find these cancers earlier before they’re causing symptoms, before they have spread on the screening mammogram, then this means they could be cured,” Ritchie said. “They can have an easier treatment and it won’t be as hard on their body so they can go back to living a totally normal life sooner.”

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force predicts this change has the potential to avert 1.3 cases of death from breast cancer per 1000 women over a lifetime of screening.