Controversial advice concerning mammograms is coming from a
The United States Preventive Services Task Force. The government panel of doctors now says most women don't need to start getting mammograms until their 50's. This advice goes against the long standing advice from the American Cancer Society.
Two years ago a routine mammogram saved Cheryl Arnold's life. "If I would have waited until I was 50, I probably would not be here. Thankfully I got mine at 46," Arnold said.
Despite Cheryl's emotional testimony the government task force says the benefits of starting mammograms at age 40 are small and accompanied by significant harm to women. "By harms I mean there were women that would undergo false positive exams, unnecessary biopsies and even be treated for cancers that would never have harmed them," said Anne Mandelblatt with the Lombardi Cancer Center in Washington DC.
The new advice says:- Most women in their 40's should not routinely get mammograms.
- Women 50 to 74 should get a mammogram every other year until they turn 75, after which the risks and benefits are unknown. (The task force's previous guidelines had no upper limit and called for exams every year or two.)
- The value of breast exams by doctors is unknown. And breast self-exams are of no value.
The American Cancer Society responded by saying they continue to recommend anual screenings beginning at age 40.
