Some doctors fear new mammogram recommendations could cost lives

Added: 2026-04-30

[00:00:00]When and how often should women get mammogs? The answer should be simple, but it just got more complicated.

[00:00:07]CBSLA's Lesie Marine live tonight with new recommendations that some doctors fear may cost lives. Lesie, yeah, Ruda Bay, breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death for women between 40 and 49. But this new recommendation is telling women to begin mammograms at age 50 and then get retested every two years. That contradicts what doctors and advocates have been saying for years.

[00:00:36]>> Lumpctomy, chemotherapy, radiation. I had it all.

[00:00:40]>> Lynn Johnson is a 22-year breast cancer survivor, but every year she goes back for her mammogram.

[00:00:46]>> When you exhale, if it's a if it's good, um there's times when they need more views. She understands the importance of a mammogram before 50. She was just 43 when diagnosed as a mother of two. And now is a breast cancer advocate with the nonprofit support sisters. She knows her early diagnosis wasn't rare.

[00:01:04]>> Breast cancer is affecting younger and younger women. Um the gals that we coach through their treatment, um they are more in their 30s and 40s these days, >> which is why she doesn't agree with the latest mammogram guidance. The American College of Physicians, the second largest physician group in the US, says women should get mammogs every two years, starting at age 50, saying it could minimize the risk of false positives, additional testing, and patient anxiety.

[00:01:33]>> Definitely not every two years, and 50 is almost too late.

[00:01:36]>> That age group between 40 and 50, we see the greatest number of lives saved and the greatest uh number of life years saved.

[00:01:44]>> Radiologist Dr. Dr. Jason McKelp is the director of breast imaging for breast link. He recommends women should schedule mammogs at 40 years old and return every year for screening. For years, many doctors have pushed this same guidance.

[00:01:58]>> Only muddies the water and confuses patients and referring physicians alike uh by making this recommendation.

[00:02:06]>> Johnson agrees. She says the answer to when and how often women should get mammogs should be simple and should be one that could save the most lives. And just because you've never had it doesn't mean you can't. So they say one in eight.

[00:02:20]>> I don't believe it's one in eight. I believe it's a whole lot more.

[00:02:26]>> And Dr. McKelp, who we did speak to tonight, says not only should women be getting those screenings starting at 40, but he says starting at age 25, you should begin speaking with your doctor about getting a breast cancer risk assessment to see if you are high risk.

[00:02:41]Reporting live in Corona, Leslie Marine, CBS