The American Medical Association recommends the same guidelines as the American Cancer Society. The National Institutes of Health recommends regular screenings every one to two years for women over 50. The National Cancer Institute suggests that women 40 to 49 talk with their doctor about when to start having regular mammograms. Women over 50 should have a mammogram every one to two years. While mammography didn't detect her cancer, Long still feels it is an important preventive tool.
Cancer is just so complex.
It's something that just mystifies the doctors. She has also learned that it is a disease that is not uncommon in her age group. These are young women. I think maybe they should be debating about under the age of 40. Most doctors agree, and health-maintenance organizations see the economic benefit of spending money on screening rather than on surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.