A lot of women feel confused over the debate about mammograms. A government panel says women should wait to get screened and do it less frequently. One local doctor hopes to clear up the confusion.

There are many questions running through women's minds. Should they listen to this new study? Or go by the age-old guidelines?

Doctor Veitschegger, a radiologist at Western Kentucky Diagnostic Imaging puts it simply,"The current guidelines seem to make the most sense. Age 40 is a good time to go ahead and get in the routine of getting mammograms. We physicians try to keep people mindful of their body, their own breast health, and self breast examinations continue to be important."

The new recommendations are merely recommendations. "We're going by the long established guidelines that have been in place for some time."

Another confusing part in this--insurance.Doctor Veitschegger says don't worry about insurance not covering your mammograms, they also go by the American Cancer Society guidelines. For now, everything should stay the same. "There's no indication that there's going to be any change in this. Although this recent news item came out that there's some committee that's made some other recommendation, I don't know of anyone changing anything at this points and I don't know of any plans to do so."

From time to time suggestions are made, but Dr. Veitschegger says annual screenings starting at age 40 is what works best. "We've been able to establish a tried and true method to screen breast cancer, to diagnose breast cancer, and to treat breast cancer and at this point I don't think anything needs to change."

Doctor Veitschegger says one-in-nine women will have breast cancer in their lifetime... So it's important to listen to your body... Do your own self-exams... Get screened... And talk with your doctor.