As a sixteen year breast cancer survivor who found my lump early through mammography, I had a higher survival rate due to early detection (my cancer was still stage one) , compared to my colleagues who found it at a later stage in the cancer's growth. Despite arguments to the contrary, women under 50 should get routine mammograms. Early diagnosis, through screening, is critical to survival, especially for an individual who is at increased risk from a close relative (usually a mother or sister) of developing breast cancer. Early diagnosis through mammography is a necessary evil that has helped in the early detection of cancer tumors in women. If I hadn't done the pre-screening, I would have found out that my cancer was in a later stage of the disease. As it happened, a mammogram detected the lump and a biopsy confirmed the cancer diagnosis. Due to early diagnosis, my tumor was only 9 mm in diameter. My oncologist informed me that the rule of thumb for receiving chemotherapy treatment was that if the tumor was 1cm or larger you received chemotherapy. Since mine was found in an early stage, I didn't have to undergo chemotherapy. Another added benefit of early diagnosis is less invasive procedures. Surgery is minimal; I had a lumpectomy, a procedure in which they removed the tumor and surrounding tissue, instead of a more invasive mastectomy. While nothing in this lifetime is 100% accurate, mammograms have increased your chances of survival over the past 30 years and the benefits have eliminated any perceived harm. Early diagnosis is key to increasing a person's chances of survival. My oncologist explained to me that since the tumor had "just begun its spiderweb growth" and all the biopsied lymph nodes were cancer-free, I had a 90 percent... half the paper... polished as the latest thinking of the day and with the medical advances of our time; It may seem like mammography isn't necessary for women in their 40s. This medical position is not only dangerous for those who may not get a life-saving mammogram, but it is also malpractice. Early diagnosis will always be the critical factor for survival, especially for those who are at high risk due to family history. Works Cited “Mammography is the best way to detect cancer early: the experts.” Sydney Morning Herald [Sydney, Australia] 14 February 2014: 8. Opposing views in context. Network. April 21, 2014.Taubes, Gary. “The Breast Screening Brawl.” Science 275.5303 (1997): 1056+. Opposing points of view in context. Network. April 21, 2014.Ubelacker, Sheryl. “NEW GUIDELINES FOR BREAST CANCER SCREENING SUGGEST FEWER MAMMOGRAPHIES NECESSARY.” Guelph Mercury (ON) nd: Viewpoint Reference Centre. Network. April 21. 2014.