New Guidelines: Mammograms are an Option at 40, Prove Most Beneficial at 50

A U.S. Government panel is recommending women get a mammogram every other year starting at the age of 50.

The new guidelines by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force are creating quite the stir, as they go against recommendations made originally by the American Cancer Society. The society suggests starting mammograms at the age of 40 and 45.

However, the panel does admit that some women in their 40s may also benefit from the screenings, and should have the option to receive them if necessary. They insist that the tests prove most beneficial for those age 50 and over, and adhere to their advice that women should be getting one every other year from ages 50 to 74.

The task force also found that women in their 60s are most likely to avoid dying of breast cancer because of mammograms.

They found that by screening women at younger ages, there’s a greater risk for false positive tests, having unnecessary biopsies and treating cancer that would turn out to not be life-threatening.

But because there is concern about how the new task force’s recommendations might be implemented, Congress recently extended legislation for two years that allows access to routine mammograms starting at age 40.