Task Force Recommends Women Over 50 Get Mammograms Every Other Year

BOSTON (CBS) -- It hasn't always been clear when women at average risk should begin getting mammograms for breast cancer screening, but a team of experts is now making its final recommendations.

The US Preventative Services Task Force is continuing to recommend mammograms every other year for women ages 50-to-74. The group says screening can be effective for women in their 40s, but over-diagnosis is a concern.

"The benefits are smaller and the harms need to be carefully viewed," says Dr. Albert Siu of Mount Sinai Hospital and Task Force chairman. "The Task Force supports women having this information and making individualized informed choices."

The recommendations come after the American Cancer Society said in October that women should now start annual mammograms at age 45.

Doctor Freya Schnabel of NYU Langone Medical Center says she's concerned about the message young women may be getting.

"They don't need to examine their breasts, their doctors don't need to look, they don't need mammograms (and) together those three things create a very worrisome vacuum for me," says Dr. Schnabel. "We have to remember that women in their 40s and below still get breast cancer."

Fortunata Kasege, 41, is about to have her first mammogram.

"I think prevention is better than cure," she said.

Kasege says she also plans to discuss how often she should be screened with her doctor.

The task force is calling for more research on newer technologies to screen for breast cancer, including 3-D mammograms. They say right now there isn't enough evidence to weigh in on those.