Women with no history of breast cancer have to muddle through
conflicting recommendations from medical and advocacy groups on
when, how and how often to screen for tumors, as the efficacy of
routine mammograms continues to raise hot debate. The U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force, an independent advisory panel
appointed by the government, sticks by its controversial 2009
decision to recommend mammograms every two years for women ages
50 to 74, though women who wish to start before then can talk to
their doctor about it. The panel also advises doctors against
teaching patients how to examine their own breasts. But several
other organizations — including the American Cancer Society, the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the
National Comprehensive Cancer Network — recommend that women at
normal risk for breast cancer get an yearly mammogram and annual
clinical breast exam starting at age 40. For women 20 through
39, these groups say, clinical breast exams should be performed
every one to th