A government panel tells women under 50 they don't need annual mammograms. It's been a national debate today over the benefits of mammograms and cost.

Local doctors don't seem too happy with this study. And one breast cancer survivor says she doesn't know if she'd be alive if she didn't get her annual mammogram.

The new guidelines are confusing for Becky Tomblinson, who says her annual mammogram 13 years ago probably saved her life. "I'm very fortunate. That's the first thing I thought when I heard the news this morning."

The US Preventative Service Task Force says 40-49 year old women with no family history of breast cancer don't need to get annual mammograms, and women over 50 should only get checked every 2 years.

They also say breast self-exams aren't needed. Tomblinson was 47 years old when she did her routine exam and got some bad news.

"Well, at first I thought it was nothing, because there's no history in my family," said Tomblinson, "but until you know something's wrong you like to think positive and hope everything's going to be okay."

Everything wasn't okay. Tomblinson had stage one breast cancer, and if she waited til she was 50 to get checked... "Had it been a fast growing tumor, I might not be here today."

In her years as a gynecologist, Doctor Lyons knows a few things are key, early detection, and annual screenings. "I've had many patients year after year have normal mammograms and then they found an early tumor maybe at their next mammogram."

Dr. Lyons and Tomblinson both fear insurance companies might go by this new recommendation, making it difficult for women to get screened. "Insurance companies can then say well this is the recommendation so we no longer have to pay for it," said Dr. Lyons, "and then unfortunately some people will have the resources to pay for the mammogram but many people will not."

"It makes me feel like we've lost ground that we had gained on fighting breast cancer," said Tomblinson.

Another local doctor, Dr. Veitshegger, also says annual screenings and early detection are key to a promising outcome.

Dr. Lyons believes mammograms are a preventative test and should be covered by healthcare.