The mammogram debate stirs anew

Two years ago this month, a government working group issued new guidelines for women: Get a regular mammogram starting at age 50. It also said mammograms for women in their 40s do not outweigh the risks involved, specifically unnecessarily biopsies.

Today in Chicago, researchers will present their study which says women in their 40s should be getting annual mammograms. That should clear things up.

The findings suggest annual mammograms are beneficial for all women in their 40s, said study researcher Dr. Stamatia Destounis, a radiologist at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care, LLC, in Rochester, N.Y.

“We’re identifying a considerable number of breast cancers in that age group,” said study researcher Dr. Stamatia Destounis, a radiologist at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care in Rochester, N.Y.

“To do screening early is always better than not,” another researcher told LiveScience.com, although she acknowledges there’s no evidence that mammograms prolong women’s lives.