Women don't need to start having mammograms to screen for breast cancer until they're 50, and they only need to have those exams every other year, new government guidelines suggest. What BS! are they kidding? There is no "one side fits all" in this case. Ask yourself if the study would have even been commissioned if the government would have covered mammograms for women in the first place.

I'm passionate about this because I had breast cancer. I actually discovered a lump in my breast when I was 34 years old. The lump turned out to be malignant. Needless to say, this changed my life entirely, but I am still here after 26 years.

By the way, there is no breast cancer in my family so I was not in what you call a high risk category. Also I had never smoked tobacco and I was fit- 5'7" and weighed 110 pounds at the time I was diagnosed. The only thing out of the ordinary was that I was under a great deal of stress at work and at home.

I discovered my lump, because I was having severe pain under my left arm and went to the doctor. Through a breast exam he discovered a lump which was confirmed by mammogram and needle biospsy.

Here is what I recommend that young women do:

1) Ask your mother and father if there is breast cancer on either side of your family. If the answer is yes, how many people and what age was the cancer discovered. Make sure that your doctor or OBY-GYN know about your family history too.

2) Based on your assessment in item 1 determine if you are in a high risk category. If you are, then I think a mammogram is a good idea with an annual physical exam.

3) Not all mammograms are equal. In recent years the equipment has gotten better. So find a facility that offers Digital Mammograms. These are better than standard mammograms especially for younger women. with a digital mammagram, the breast images can be manipulated with the aid of a computer. The doctor can actually view breast and suspicious areas from differnt angles and differnt shades of light. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Digital_Mammograms_Outperform_Standard_Ones_in_Some_Women.asp

4) Remember that a annual mammagram is just a snap shot of your breast. Breast tumors can be slow growing or fast growing so you need to perform a breast self exam http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_6x_How_to_perform_a_breast_self_exam_5.asp. The best time to do so may be when you take your shower and are soaped up.

5) Don't forget the bedroom. While awkward, your lover may also notice that there is a lump in your breast.