Women have been told for decades that annual mammograms starting at age 40 are the gold standard—but is a one-size-fits-all approach really the best way to detect breast cancer?

In this episode, Dr. Polly Watson is joined by breast surgeon and researcher Dr. Laura Esserman to discuss the groundbreaking WISDOM Study and the future of personalized breast cancer screening. They explore how genetic testing, breast density, family history, and other individual risk factors can be used to tailor screening recommendations, helping identify women who need earlier or more intensive screening while reducing unnecessary imaging, false positives, and biopsies for those at lower risk. Learn why family history isn't the whole story, how comprehensive risk assessment could transform women's healthcare, and what you can do today to better understand your own breast cancer risk.

Quotes

• “Breast cancer isn't one disease. We don't treat it that way anymore. So why are we doing one-size-fits-all screening?” — Dr. Laura Esserman
• “Ninety percent of people who have breast cancer don't have a family history, so we still have to keep looking.” — Dr. Polly Watson
• “You want to do more for the people that need it and decrease the burden of screening for the people who are doing okay.” — Dr. Laura Esserman

Resources

Listen: The Future of Breast Cancer Screening: Insights from the WISDOM Study

Connect with Dr. Laura Esserman MD, MBA

The WISDOM Study: https://www.thewisdomstudy.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joinwisdom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewisdomstudy.org/

New Patient: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/laura-esserman

Website: https://cancer.ucsf.edu/people/esserman.laura

Connect with Dr. Polly Watson MD, FACOG, MSCP, FMCP-M

Website: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast

Resources: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-resources

New Patient: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/new-patient-consultation

Instagram: https://instagram.com/hormonewellnessmd

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hormonewellnessmd\

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Tw8oHGR_6wBZmXrTu9xA

Disclaimer: https://hormonewellnessmd.com/podcast-disclaimer