ACR poll: Most women view mammo as important, but access drops
Nearly nine-in-10 women reported that having a regular mammogram gave them a feeling of control over their own healthcare and nearly 90 percent of women who had a mammogram considered the exam important to their health and well-being, according to a recent poll of 1,000 American voters conducted for the American College of Radiology (ACR). The poll, conducted Aug. 31-Sept. 6, also showed that 86 percent of women reported having a mammogram in the last two years.
Mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer death rate by more than 30 percent since 1990, the ACR said in a statement, adding that every major medical organization with expertise in breast cancer now recommends women get annual mammograms starting at age 40.
However, the number of mammography facilities nationwide continues to decline. According to the FDA, there are now 223 fewer mammography facilities and 1,331 fewer mammography scanners available to U.S. women than in July 2007.
Mammography has helped reduce the breast cancer death rate by more than 30 percent since 1990, the ACR said in a statement, adding that every major medical organization with expertise in breast cancer now recommends women get annual mammograms starting at age 40.
However, the number of mammography facilities nationwide continues to decline. According to the FDA, there are now 223 fewer mammography facilities and 1,331 fewer mammography scanners available to U.S. women than in July 2007.