Reported By Christine Webb

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius says federal policy on who should get breast cancer screening has not changed.

Her statement is aimed at easing confusion over a government panel's recommendation Monday that said most women don't need mammograms in their 40s and should get one every two years starting at 50 and there's no need to take part in self breast exams.

That policy could have cost Lissette Olavarria her life.

One woman's story -- and why a mammogram before age 50 saved her life.

Olavarria is married, has two beautiful children and she's a talented pediatrician.

At age 45 -- she discovered she had breast cancer through a routine mammogram.

"Under the current recommendations, my situation would have been a lot different," she explained. "We wouldn't have caught it early and who knows."

Doctor Nikita Shah, an Oncologist at MD Anderson Orlando is seeing more and more younger women diagnosed with Breast Cancer.

She's outraged at these new guidelines and will not change her practice.

"It would make you mad because you know you can save lives, so it's hard just to say it's OK," Shah said.

Dr. Shah shows us an example -- this necklace represents a woman's lump. Look at the difference -- this is the size of a lump from someone who does not do regular mammograms.

Now look at the difference -- this is the size of a lump from someone who does do regular mammograms.

"We know the survival rate is 95 percent," she said.

Lissette is still going through treatment and remains joyful knowing her mammogram caught her breast cancer early, grateful she can enjoy her family and make a difference and live a long life.

"First of all I need to say that someone up there is really looking out for me," she said. "It really made a difference in my case."

Lissette is also a pediatrician and is hoping to use her experience in her field as well to help others.

The American Cancer Society has been recommending annual mammograms beginning at 40, and it's staying with that position.

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