republican critics call it a big government program that would raise taxes. the debate among women about who should get a mammogram and when is heating up even more this morning. that s after a major study about the annual breast cancer screenings seems to contradict previous guidelines. dr. richard besser has more. reporter: it s a mammoth study. following 1 million swedish women for 20 years. researchers found women between the ages of 40 and 49 offered mammograms at least every two years had a 26% less chance of dying from breast cancer than those who didn t have the regular screening. that means screen 1,200 women, save one life. start at the age of 40, you have a much better chance of picking cancer up early. and i think that s the main bottom line. reporter: today s study flies in the face of those controversial government recommendations last year. when a panel found mammograms for women under 50 should be an individual decision rather than a general recommenda