And while the Big Debate over health care continues to boil, there is a subtext argument going on about breast cancer-detection protocols.

For years, experts have advised women to get regular mammograms, beginning at age 40. This week, a government commission issued new guidelines, telling women they should get mammograms every two years, beginning at age 50.

The panel’s argument is centered on the statistical risk of breast cancer being very low for women in the 40-50 age group, and that doing early tests increases the possibility of false readings, resulting in

un-needed surgery and other treatment.

The American Cancer Society and a group of oncologists immediately fired back, pointing out that more than 25 percent of breast-cancer diagnoses occur in women in their 40s.

Medicare and private insurers, which usually follow the government’s recommendations, will continue to pay for the tests in women under 50 — but no one is certain for how long.

In the end, the woman and her doctor should decide when and if such a test is necessary. One major factor in beating cancer is early detection. If testing at age 40 accomplishes that objective, the other statistics don’t really matter.