The United States government has changed its recommendation on breast cancer screenings, now saying women should get mammograms every year or two from age 40 onward.

Previously, the government had recommended women start getting semi-annual screenings at age 50.

The change, announced Thursday by U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson, brings the federal recommendation in line with that of the American Cancer Society.

Federal health officials altered their guidelines after reviewing eight major studies of mammography. They concluded more screenings at an earlier age could prevent a number of women from dying of breast cancer.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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