A federal panel says that most women in their 40's no longer need to be screened for breast cancer, and that women over 50 should get mammograms less frequently, now every other year. Previously, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommended regular screening starting at age 40. In reversing those guidelines, the panel said that the risk of screening women aged 40 to 49 outweighed the benefit. But the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology are criticizing the change. Will the new guidelines hinder early detection of breast cancer? What do you think of the recommendations, and do you plan to follow them?

Guest:

Dr. Stephen Taplin, Senior Scientist and the Acting Branch Chief of the Applied Cancer Screening Research Branch at the National Cancer Institute

Dr. Catherine Dang, attending surgeon at the Saul and Joyce Brandman Breast Center at the Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dept. of Surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.

Laura Nikolaides, Director of Research Programs, National Breast Cancer Coalition