The federal government is offering new recommendations on when and how often women should receive mammograms.

According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, women between the ages of 50 and 74 should get a mammogram every other year. It says that breast cancer screenings do the most good later in life. People younger than 50 should get them after weighing the pros and cons.

However, the task force also stresses that its advice is not a one-size-fits-all situation.

Long Island has some of the highest rates of breast cancer in the country.

The task force made no recommendation for or against the use of mammograms for women 75 and older, saying that the evidence was unclear.

The panel also cited insufficient evidence regarding the use of 3D mammography.