Olathe , KS – Former State Rep. Patricia Lightner, Republican candidate for Congress, expressed disappointment at the recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that women not start receiving routine mammograms before the age of 50, and that women between 50 and 74 only receive mammograms every other year instead of annually.

“As a woman who has had two lumps removed -- both found by self-examination and confirmed by mammograms while in my forties – I am appalled at the recent recommendations that most women should not begin self examination or mammograms until their 50’s. That is simply too late for most women – and it may have been for me,” said Lightner.

Lightner said she is concerned the new recommendations will confuse women, even if official government policy doesn’t change.

“We just celebrated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month -- all those pink ribbons were meant to encourage women to be aware of the dangers of breast cancer and to get tested. Now we have recommendations which are confusing themselves and will likely confuse women about what to do, as well,” said Lightner.

She specifically pointed to a quote from one of the task force members, Dr. Dinana Petitti, who said, ”We aren’t against screening women in their 40’s, we just don’t think it should be routine.”

“I’m not sure what that quote even means,” said Lightner. “Part of screening is the routine, so women stay diligent in monitoring something that can emerge without warning. I stand with those doctors and organizations that have stood by the previous recommendations, urging women to continue to get routine mammograms and to self-exam starting at 40.”

Lightner said she was concerned that this is an example of how health care would be implemented under a government run program.

“This task force was a group of government-run, government-funded so-called experts who are in reality, nothing more than a group of fancy-titled bureaucrats. This is exactly the type of panel that could very well be setting recommendations on all kinds of other care-related issues under ObamaCare. I’m deeply concerned that recommendations like this will be used to set policy on coverage, and that saving money will end up being as important as saving lives,” said Lightner.