HEALTHBEAT: When To Stop Mammograms Tricky Issue As US Ages

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Lost in the arguing over whether women should begin mammograms at age 40 or 50, or somewhere in between, is the issue they'll all eventually face: when to stop.

It's an increasingly complex balancing act as older women live even longer. Breast cancer risks increase with age. But so do the odds of having other serious illnesses that may be more likely to kill sooner than cancer.

Medical guidelines don't agree.

The American Cancer Society says women should continue mammograms as long as their overall health is good and they're likely to live at least 10 more years.

Just last week, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said there's not enough evidence to recommend for or against mammograms at age 75 and older.

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