For these reasons, the ACR still advises women to get mammograms for screening starting at age 40 – which is also advised by the American Cancer Society, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) and Society of Breast Imaging (SBI).

Arguably, what is at issue could be the mandate to screen. "Screening is a choice. It's not a public health imperative," Welch told NBC News.


Debate over screening has been so heated that it made it to Congress, which passed legislation that made screening mammograms covered by insurance companies for most of those who sought them.

Welch's study greatly angered at least one cancer leader.

"These conclusions are bold, attention-grabbing, and should be taken with a grain of salt — actually, an entire spoonful," the American Cancer Society's chief cancer control officer, Dr. Richard Wender stated, as reported by NBC.

Controversial as the study may be, in an accompanying article in the journal, Dr. Joann Elmore of the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle advised that the potential “collateral damage” of overdiagnosis needed to be considered.

“The mantras, ‘all cancers are life-threatening’ and ‘When in doubt, cut it out,’ require revision,” she noted, according to CBS News.

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