More women than ever are getting mammography screening, and cancer mortality rates are declining. However, a growing trend shows that minority and elderly women are far less likely to have regular mammograms.
A new study by the sponsors of the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) shows that although the gap in screening between white and African-American women may be closing, Hispanic and Native American women lag in having regular mammograms. Fewer than 50% of Hispanic women 40 and older have annual mammograms.
The study’s findings are most significant for black women, who are more likely to have their breast cancer diagnosed at later, less treatable, stages. African-American women whose breast cancers are diagnosed early have a five-year survival rate of 89%, according to the study.
According to the American Cancer Society, women who are screened annually reduce their risk of dying from breast cancer by 63%, and 2 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the U.S. today, due in large part to mammography screening.
Minority women are at a disadvantage for accessing regular mammography, according to NBCAM, due to low income, lack of insurance coverage, and lack of relevant messages to inform them.
Without regular healthcare services, these women may not be getting physician support for regular mammography. Additional concerns listed by NBCAM are a shortage of qualified diagnostic radiologists to perform mammograms, low reimbursement rates, and a declining number of imaging centers around the U.S.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersOctober 25, 2001
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