Local doctor, breast cancer survivor react to mammography guidelines

A breast cancer survivor in Beaumont is outraged that a government panel is suggesting most women can wait until they are 50 to get a mammogram.
The panel's finding is contrary to the American Cancer Institute's recommendation that women get mammograms when they are 40.
"I was horrified.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing when I heard this yesterday," says Marty Craig.
Marty Craig was in her kitchen when she heard the government panel's findings.
Craig is a breast cancer survivor.
"I feel like my life was saved because I started in my 40s.  I wouldn't miss a mammogram for all the tea in China," says Craig.
The panel suggests women begin mammograms at 50, and if there are no risk factors, a screening every other year is deemed acceptable.
The task force found that 3 of every 5 screenings were false positives for women in their 40's.
It said the results raise the anxiety of women and lead to an increase in unnecessary biopsies.
"If there's an abnormality in the mammogram that dictates a biopsy, that's not unnecessary," says Dr. S.T. Ramachandran, who is the medical director of the Julie and Ben Rogers Cancer Insititute.
He says the benefits outweigh the risks of screenings for women who are in their 40's.  That's the standard recommended by the American Cancer Institute.
"I don't think we should change our guidelines we've been practicing," says Dr. Ramachandran.
"I'm disappointed because I think they're putting women at risk," says Craig.
Craig says it all comes down to saving lives.
"To prevent the death and catch it early so you can give them a better chance to being cured," says Dr. Ramachandran.
"We spend 30 minutes for yourself.  We go to the beauty shop, why not?  We spend more money there, so why not?" asks Craig.
Some studies show that 1 out of every 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.