BOISE - Jennifer Reynolds thought she might not live to see her children grow up after learning she had breast cancer at the age of 31. The experience changed her life forever.

"Even though on the outside I look really healthy, it's an emotional and mental struggle some days," said Reynolds, a breast cancer survivor.

Reynolds believes early detection is the key to helping other women survive breast cancer as well. Reynolds said she's skeptical about new guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

"I find it unbelievable actually that they would recommend waiting that long for baseline and routine screenings," Reynolds said.

For nearly two decades, medical experts had been recommending regular mammograms beginning at age 40. Now, the government task force said most women should wait until age 50 to get mammograms and then have one every two years. The task force also said breast self-exams aren't productive and women should not be taught to do them.

Dr. James Maxwell, medical director of St. Luke’s Breast Care Services, said he believes the new recommendations are a step backwards in women's health care.

"Certainly, I've seen a number of patients who've identified a breast cancer on their self breast exam," Maxwell said. "If they hadn't done that, I think it would have been diagnosed at a later stage and their outcomes probably would be worse."

The task force said the guidelines are for the general population, not those at high risk of breast cancer because of family history or gene mutations that would justify having mammograms sooner or more often.