Why almost 40% of women surveyed say they’ve missed a recommended mammogram
More than one-third (37%) of women say they have skipped or delayed a recommended breast cancer screening exam, according to new survey data.
Among those who missed their mammogram, about 40% had gone more than two years without one. When asked what would motivate them to get back on track with their screenings, almost 1 in 4 cited a direct recommendation from their doctor.
The findings come from a national survey sample of 1,000 U.S. women between the ages of 35 and 75, conducted by breast imaging vendor Hologic in August.
“These findings show that what stands between a woman and a potentially lifesaving mammogram is rarely a single obstacle,” Jyoti Gupta, PhD, CEO of Hologic’s Breast and Skeletal Health Solutions business, said in a statement Oct. 6. “More often, it’s a missed reminder, a conversation that never happened or uncertainty about which screenings she needs and what they may cost her.”
Hologic identified several gaps that may stand between women and their regular screening. About half of women do not routinely see an OB-GYN, with 20% of screening-eligible individuals saying they’ve never been told to get one. About 21% said getting a recommended mammogram is not top of mind. Another 36% do not know or do not believe that preventive screenings are covered under most health plans at zero cost. Other common concerns included transportation barriers, housing instability and food insecurity. About 43% believe, or are unsure whether, mammograms may expose them to dangerous levels of radiation, Hologic noted.
The survey also highlighted “major gaps” in women’s understanding of breast density, despite efforts to correct this knowledge gap. About 57% of respondents did not know that having dense breasts increases their risk of cancer, and 66% believe dense breasts can be detected by touch. Another 37% who have had a mammogram said they did not have a meaningful conversation about their breast density following a mammogram, and 40% of women with dense breasts said they were never recommended for additional screening.
You can read more about the results, and Hologic’s “Bust the Myth” campaign to bolster cancer screening, here.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.