Ladies Hold Off On The Mammograms … At Least Until You’re 50

According to an independent government panel report from the Preventive Services Task Force women should have mammograms less often than previously thought prudent for early detection of breast cancer. While it is not government policy, the task force recommends that women — unless there are extenuating circumstances or a have a family history of breast cancer — should wait until age 50 to have regular mammograms rather than at age 40. The report recommends that even at age 50 women need only have the examination done bi-annually.

However, The American Cancer Society and the U.S. department of Health and Human Services disagree with the task force report and strongly suggests that women continue annual screenings, beginning at age 40. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius states that although mammograms have helped many American women, there are still millions of women who don’t have insurance nor do they receive any mammograms on a regular basis. According to Sebelius, the purpose of the health care reform debate is to close the gap so that all women have the opportunity for mammograms.

–iesha daniels