NEW YORK (November 16, 2009)—The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government panel of doctors and scientists, recommended Monday that most women wait until they’re 50 to get mammograms and then only every two years, but the American Cancer Society says it’s sticking with it recommendation that women start the screening at 40 and

The task force says earlier and regular mammograms produce too many false positives and recommends against routine mammography in women from 40 to 49.

It also recommends biennial rather than annual mammography for women 50 to 74 and recommends against teaching breast self-examination, saying adequate evidence suggests that self-examination does not reduce breast cancer mortality.

The American Cancer Society defends its current recommendations, however.

“With its new recommendations, the USPSTF is essentially telling women that mammography at age 40 to 49 saves lives; just not enough of them,” said Dr. Otis W. Brawley the chief medical office of the American Cancer Society.

“The American Cancer Society continues to recommend annual screening using mammography and clinical breast examination for all women beginning at age 40,” Brawley said.

“Our experts make this recommendation having reviewed virtually all the same data reviewed by the USPSTF, but also additional data that the USPSTF did not consider.

“When recommendations are based on judgments about the balance of risks and benefits, reasonable experts can look at the same data and reach different conclusions,” he said.