This was stressed yesterday by surgeon Dr. Terence Elliott and Mrs. Shirley Humphreys who heads the Island's only breast cancer support group, "Just Between Us''.

Both Dr. Elliott and Mrs. Humphreys were commenting after a study found women in their 40s do not benefit from mammograms.

The findings, disclosed last week at a meeting of mammography experts in Maryland, confirmed a Canadian study published last year.

The Canadian study found 40 percent of cancers in under-50 women were not detected by mammograms and that women who underwent the screenings had a two percent chance per year of having a biopsy for a noncancerous lump.

However, the study did find that mammograms were of substantial value to women 50 and over.

Dr. Elliott said this was because older breasts had less tissue, allowing abnormalities to be detected easier.

But he added that not all breasts age at the same rate.

He said generally older women are encouraged to have a mammogram and younger women primarily rely on physical exams.

But it is also recommended that women in their 40s have mammograms every one or two years.

Dr. Elliott stressed it is important for women to get to know their breasts so that they can report any abnormality to their physician.

Mrs. Humphreys, who 18 years ago was found to have breast cancer and was given five years to live, stressed that self examinations were the first line of defence. She said 70 percent of all breast cancer is found by women themselves.

She said women and girls -- as soon as they reach puberty -- should examine their breasts at the same time every month.

Mrs. Humphreys said mammograms had proven effective in the past and should not be ignored.