A local health official weighs in on the debate.
OTTUMWA, IOWA -- In light of the heated national debate over whether women in their 40s should have an annual mammogram, a local official agrees that a woman in her 40s should have the test every year.
This recommendation is also supported by the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute.
New guidelines from the United States Preventative Service Task Force are recommending the test for women age 50 and older, and every other year, stating that the benefits of testing to not "outweigh the harms and risks."
Kristina Mefford, a Registered Nurse at Iowa Health Physicians & Clinics, told Fact Finder about the importance of an annual mammogram, or self-breast exam. She said that a mammogram can spot cancerous areas that a self-exam might overlook. And she added that early detection is essential.
"If you let something go, it can metastasize to your lung, to your bone. It can really be a horrible thing if you let it go. So early detection is very important," Mefford said.
She cited a personal story about her mother who was diagnosed with breast cancer...
"My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last year when she was 47, and it was just an annual screening mammogram. She had no lumps or anything going on, and [the cancer] picked up on her mammogram. So to me, that says it happens and you don't have to be 50 for it to happen," Mefford said.
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