Early Cancer Screening Not Beneficial for Women in Their 40s A recent study has reignited the controversy stemming from the consequences of over-screening In a study published in The Lancet Oncology, scientists analyzed the effectiveness of breast cancer screening in Great Britain. The researchers concluded that mammograms beginning at age 40 or 41, as opposed to the recommended age 50 by the NHS, were associated with a relative reduction in breast cancer mortality. They noted that a 2010 study found that early screening in ages 40 or 41 to 48 resulted in an 18.1 percent false positive rate w...