American Cancer Society: women should get mammograms later in life, less often
Oct-22-2015

In a move sure to befuddle women -- and anger some breast cancer survivors -- the American Cancer Society has issued new guidelines saying less screening for breast cancer is better than more.

The venerated cancer organization says women should start getting mammograms at 45 instead of 40, and that everyone can skip the routine manual breast checks by doctors.

An exhaustive review of the medical literature shows these measures just aren't very effective, according to the group. "The chance that you're going to find a cancer and save a life is actually very small," said Dr. Otis Brawley, the society's chief medical officer.

Now three key groups -- the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Cancer Society, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force -- recommend different ages for starting regular mammograms: 40, 45 and 50 respectively.

"So now we have three different sets of recommendations from three different groups which are all conflicted," said St. Vincent Oncologist, Dr. Niraj Gupta.

While mammograms save lives, they can also cause harm, and each group does a different job of balancing the pros and cons.

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