BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A new government task force is recommending that most woman wait until age 50 to start getting mammograms. The previously recommended age was 40.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government panel of doctors and scientists, concluded that such early and frequent screenings often lead to false alarms and unneeded biopsies, without substantially improving women's odds of survival.

The American Cancer society, Susan G. Komen Foundation and Kern County Links for Life all disagree with these finding. Eyewitness News hit the streets and asked some Kern County women what they thought of the new recommendation.

"You hear of a lot of breast cancer in younger woman in their 40s, so I think it would be a good idea to stick to 40," said Beverly Stevens, of Bakersfield.

Sue Huff, 55, said she's had two aunts who have had breast cancer, and her grandmother also was diagnosed with the disease. She was very upset when she heard about the news guidelines.

"No, it should be 40. The government shouldn't have anything to do with a woman having a mammogram," said Huff.

Janice Mims lost her best friend to breast cancer and just had her first mammogram at the age of 41.

"Ain't no telling what could happen, 10 years from now," she said. "The quicker you give it, the more chance you have of saving it."

Danielle Sackett also did not like the idea of having to wait longer to get screened. Just like almost every woman Eyewitness News spoke with, she, too, had a very close experience with breast cancer.

Mary Toliver summed up the thoughts of all the woman in Eyewitness News' unscientific poll.

"The earlier the screening, the better," Toliver said.

California Commissioner Steve Poizner reminded Californians on Wednesday that a state law remains in place that dictates women still have the right under their insurance coverage to be given mammograms beginning at the age of 35.