The debate is growing over what age women should start getting screened for breast cancer. Last year, an estimated 40,000 women across the country died from breast cancer. A Government Task Force has released new guidelines about the screening. The U.S. Preventative Task Force now recommends starting mammograms at the age of 50, with routine check-ups every two years.
The new report states that mammograms before 50 can lead to false positives and other complications. Dr. Robert Carroll, a Medical Oncologist at North Florida Regional Medical Center says the positives outweigh the negatives. "We find things that don't need to be found, but I have never seen someone die from a biopsy." The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination annually for all women beginning at age 40.