Why are some women avoiding mammograms?
A new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found about a quarter of women at risk for breast cancer did not receive mammogram screening in the past two years as of 2022.
About 1 in 4 women aged 50 to 74 did not get mammogram screenings during the pandemic years despite the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force's recommendation that this age group get checked every two years. According to the CDC, screening mammograms have been shown to reduce breast cancer death by 22%.
The report indicated about 3 in 10 women aged 50 to 74 with three or more social needs had not received a mammogram, and women who reported cost as a barrier to access health care had about two times the odds of not getting a mammogram. Health-related social needs include social isolation, job loss, lack of reliable transportation and insecurity around food or housing.
Read more: CDC
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