1 in 5 Young Women Has No Plans to Get a Mammogram
THURSDAY, Sept. 29, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Terlisa Sheppard knows the value of tracking changes in her body.
The Orlando Health patient was eight and a half months pregnant and just 31 years old when she felt a lump under her arm. She left work to get it checked out and "didn’t return back to work because that is the evening that I found out I had breast cancer," Sheppard said.
Now, 23 years later -- and long after delivering that healthy baby -- Sheppard wants young women to understand the benefits of screening for breast cancer.
"I know for sure that that mammogram saved my life and my baby's life," Sheppard said.
Early detection of breast cancer is critical to help women avoid a late-stage diagnosis that is harder to treat. Yet a new survey finds many younger women have no plans to get a mammogram in the near future.
Researchers also found that many of these women are unaware of their individual risks for breast cancer.
The national survey by a health provider in Florida found that more than one-fifth -- 22% -- of women 35 to 44 had no plans to get a mammogram that could detect cancer and potentially save their lives.
"That to me is really concerning because we recommend mammograms starting at age 40 and these women are saying, 'Nope, I don't plan to,'" said Dr. Nikita Shah, medical oncology team leader for the Breast Cancer Center at the Orlando Health Care Institute. The survey of more than 1,100 adult women was conducted online Sept. 8-12.
Breast cancer specialists at Orlando Health aren't sure why women might feel this way. But Shah believes it's a combination of lack of awareness, concerns about the cost of a mammogram and worries that the screening procedure will hurt.
While cost can be a factor for some, most private insurers cover screening mammograms under the Affordable Care Act. Also, during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many organizations offer them for free or at a low cost, such as $20 to $30, Shah said.
"The other thing I hear is the compression hurts and, yes, it does hurt, it's a little uncomfortable, but it literally lasts for a few minutes and then it goes away," Shah said. "Don't let that be a reason why you don't do a mammogram, which can save your life."
Women of average risk of breast cancer can get a mammogram annually beginning at age 40, according to guidelines. Those who have a family history of breast cancer should start earlier as should those with prior biopsies, atypical cells and dense breast tissue.
While 22% of women ages 35 to 44 have never had a mammogram and have no plans to get one, only about 43% of women knew their family history, the survey found.
"We kind of just assume that people know, but sometimes patients don't have good relationships with family members or they don't know or they don't ask or people may not talk about it," Shah said. "Knowing family history is important."
About 42,000 women in the United States die of breast cancer each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but survival is over 90% if the tumor is caught early. Mammograms can spot tiny tumors, making it more likely to catch the disease at an earlier stage.