Breast cancer screenings should begin at 40, not 50, new guidelines say

(The Hill) -- The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) on Tuesday released new guidance advising that women begin receiving annual breast cancer screenings at age 40, 10 years earlier than its previous recommendation, citing updated research.

"All women are now encouraged to get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40, thanks to new and more inclusive science about breast cancer in people younger than 50 that has enabled the Task Force to expand its prior recommendation," the USPSTF said in a statement.

The independent volunteer panel of physicians' recommendation was Grade B, meaning the task force believes with high certainty this guidance has a "moderate to substantial" net benefit. This guidance is an update on the USPSTF's final recommendation in 2016 that advised women to make individual decisions in their 40's on when to start getting screened.

The recommendation applies to all women and individuals as...