LAS VEGAS, NV - There are shocking new recommendations for women in the fight against breast cancer. One group says everything you learned as a teenager could do more harm than good.

The influential task force now says most women don't need to start getting mammograms until they're fifty. Even then, they should only be done every two years.

As for those self breast exams, the task force says forget about them. Try giving that advice to somebody who has battled breast cancer and won.

"The powers that be, I think whoever is coming up with these ridiculous recommendation, I think they need to think twice," said Linda Benitez, a local five-year breast cancer survivor.

Benitez teaches classes for the American Cancer Society and lends much of her time to women going through the same struggles she went through.

As someone who discovered a lump during a self-exam back at age 45, she refuses to believe that women are getting too many mammograms.

"Are they really kidding. If I would've waited until I was 50, I wouldn't be here, " added Benitez.

The study, not only pushes for screening starting at a later age, but also less frequently. It says that more screening means more painful biopsies and more anxiety, not to mention more tax on the health care system.

The confusing advice goes against what the American Cancer Society has long advocated. It also comes at a time when mammograms are helping drive down the breast cancer death toll.

The American Cancer Society says it will continue to advise that women over 40 get annual mammograms. But there is talk that the new task force recommendation could influence whether insurance will pay for the procedure .

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