Breast Health
Study Shows Not Enough Older Women Get MammogramsOlder American women are not getting as many mammograms as they say, or think they are, according to a report in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.  The study also found that African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic women are receiving even fewer screenings than Caucasian women. While experts say it is no surprise that women remember having more mammograms than they actually do, the findings do have troubling policy implications. "When we are making policy decisions [on breast-cancer screening], simply asking people is not enough," says Dr. Christopher Kagay, a radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. Mammogram Numbers Growing, But Still LackingAnnual mammograms to detect possible tumors are recommended for women ages 40 and older. Breast cancer is the second leading cancer killer among women in the US. The odds of developing breast cancer increase as a woman gets older. Overall, breast-cancer screening rates have risen over the past 15 years, but they have dipped during the last five. For the new study, the researchers looked at Medicare claims data on 146,669 women in 11 metropolitan areas around the country. These statistics were then compared with what the women themselves had reported. Seventy percent to 80 percent of women, ages 65 to 69, reported getting at least one mammogram every two years. But the data showed that only 61 percent of the women actually received regular screening, with the lowest rates among African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic women. Overall, the biennial screening rate in 2000 and 2001 was 50.6 percent for non-Hispanic Caucasian women, 40.5 percent for African-American women, 34.7 percent for Asian-American women, 36.3 percent for Hispanic women, and only 12.5 percent for Native-American women. Remind Women to Care for ThemselvesAccording to Dr. Alan Astrow at Maimonides Medical Center, it is not unusual for patients to think they are taking better care of themselves than they actually are, whether it is medications, screening, or other procedures. One possible limitation of this study, he adds, is that the researchers cannot be sure that the Medicare claims data and the resulting explanation tell the full story. But for Dr. Kagay, lead author of the study, the results point up the need to keep hammering home awareness and education messages regarding breast-cancer screening. "The data is important for people who are basically interested in asking, 'Are we meeting our goals for getting elderly women screened?' And that can range from an individual doctor evaluating his own practice patterns to a policy maker trying to allocate money for public-health resources," says Dr. Kagay. Always consult your physician for more information. Online Resources(Our Organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.) American Journal of Preventive Medicine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Department of Defense - Breast Cancer Program National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program National Cancer Institute (NCI) National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project |
September 2006Study Shows Not Enough Older Women Get Mammograms Mammogram Numbers Growing, But Still Lacking Remind Women to Care for Themselves Mammogram ScreeningToday's high-quality screening mammography is the most effective tool available to physicians in detecting breast cancer before lumps can be felt or symptoms of cancer appear. Early detection of breast cancer not only helps provide a woman with more options, but also increases the possibility of a favorable prognosis. The risk of harm from radiation exposure is extremely small, and the risk decreases significantly as a woman ages. The actual exposure of radiation during a mammogram is about equivalent to that of having a dental exam. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that mammograms not exceed 2 rads (radiation absorbed dose), the unit of measure for radiation exposure. Most mammograms actually deliver a small fraction of that amount and a woman must carefully weigh the risks of not having mammograms against that of this small radiation exposure. A woman should avoid using deodorant and lotions and wear two-piece clothing on the day of her mammogram. A specially-trained radiological technologist, who will perform the x-ray, will ask the woman to undress and stand next to the x-ray machine. Two flat surfaces, or plates, are lowered and compress each breast for a few seconds. This compression is necessary to produce the best pictures using the lowest amount of radiation possible. Some women find the pressure of the plates on their breasts to be uncomfortable or even somewhat painful. Timing your mammogram when your breasts are not tender is important. In premenopausal women, this is usually one week after your menstrual period. If you do experience discomfort or pain, remember that each x-ray takes just a few moments and could save your life. Medicare covers mammography screening for women 65 and older every year. Most states now require that health insurance policies offer mammography screening reimbursement. In addition, many mammography facilities also offer special programs and lower fees during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. For low income women, mammograms are covered through the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. For more information, contact your state Department of Health. Always consult your physician for more information. |