New Breast Cancer Guidelines: Screen Later, Less Often

As if the debate on mammography weren't confusing enough, The American Cancer Society has just released new breast cancer screening guidelines saying less screenings are better than more.

The new guidelines instruct women to now wait until age 45 to get mammograms and to halt routine manual breast checks by doctors altogether. The society cites ineffectiveness when it comes to breast checks.

"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.

Confusion about mammography is now more pertinent than ever. Guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say to get mammograms starting at age 40 while guidelines from the American Cancer Society say to wait until 45. And yet another organization, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, says to wait until age 50.

Click here to learn more about these new guidelines.