WASHINGTON - Most women don't need a mammogram in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50, a government task force said Monday. It's a major reversal that conflicts with the American Cancer Society's long-standing position.

For most of the past two decades, the cancer society has been recommending annual mammograms beginning at 40.

But the government panel of doctors and scientists concluded that getting screened for breast cancer so early and so often leads to too many false alarms and unneeded biopsies without substantially improving women's odds of survival. 

"Starting at age 50 compared to age 40 saves more lives relative to the harms," said Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt, of Georgetown's Lombardi Cancer Center, and one of the study's authors.

"I think that's probably good," said Sara Melendez. "We're spending so much money on tests that are end up being not necessary."

The news is counterintuitive to what woman have been told for some time and provoked a strong reaction from some women.

On the streets of Georgetown Monday, word Ermona McGoodin, a 17-year breast cancer survivor, was caught off guard by the new study.

"That's what caught mine, so why put it off?" asked Ermona McGoodin. "I'm here because of it."

On the Web

» Lombardi Cancer Center

» American Society of Clinical Oncology

» American Cancer Society

Some cancer advocacy groups are also questioning the study. Several prominent groups say they still stand behind their recommendations for women to get mammograms annually as of age 40.

"Mammograms save lives," said Meghan Evett, with the Susan G. Komen (web) For the Cure organization. "And they save lives in women 40 to 49, and they save lives in women 50 and older."

In a statement, The American Cancer Society wrote it "continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40. Our experts make this recommendation having reviewed virtually all the same data reviewed by the USPSTF, but also additional data that the USPSTF did not consider. When recommendations are based on judgments about the balance of risks and benefits, reasonable experts can look at the same data and reach different conclusions."

Many women agree, including Janet Pfister, who credits her mammogram with catching something she didn't.

"They found a lump so I'm very glad that I had it done in one year," the Falls Church resident said. "If I had waited until two years, {the outcome} might not have been so good."

The new guidelines were issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, whose stance influences coverage of screening tests by Medicare and many insurance companies.

But Susan Pisano, a spokeswoman for America's Health Insurance Plans, an industry group, said insurance coverage isn't likely to change because of the new guidelines. No changes are planned in Medicare coverage either, said Dori Salcido, spokeswoman for the Health and Human Services department.

Both researchers and advocacy groups agree that patients need to discuss these recommendations with their doctor to decide what's best for them.

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