New breast cancer screening guidelines may not be as helpful

In 2009, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended that women do not need mammograms as frequently. However, a new study shows this recommendation may have overlooked evidence that could save lives.

Previous guidelines suggested at the age of 40, women start receiving annual mammograms. However, new guidelines explain a woman does not need to receive regular mammograms until 50 years old, and only receive them every other year.

What University of Colorado and University of Michigan researchers have found though, is that women notice a decreased risk of dying from breast cancer of more than 70 percent when receiving annual mammograms starting when 40 years old.

Under the new guidelines, women only experience a 23 percent death risk reduction.

What shocked researchers, is that the data used for these findings was the same set the USPSTF used when making the new recommended guidelines.

The study can be found in the American Journal of Roentgenology.