New survey data out of Orlando Health reveals that up to 22% of eligible women have not undergone their first mammographic screening for breast cancer.
And according to an Orlando Health release on the data, many of these women (aged 35 to 44) have no intention of completing a breast cancer screening any time soon.
This news is of great concern to Nikita Shah, MD, medical oncology team leader for the Breast Care Center at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute. In an interview with Orland Health, Shah commented on the importance of understanding patients’ personal factors that could increase their risks—such as family history, dense breast tissue, race, age, etc.—when making decisions about when to begin early screening.
“African American women tend to have a more aggressive disease course, and we want everybody, regardless of their race, to be aware and get their recommended mammograms. Breast cancer is one of the few cancers where the survival rate is over 90 percent when caught early, and we know that early detection is where we can really make a difference.”
The survey data also revealed that 26% of eligible women have not had a formal conversation with their primary care physicians regarding their breast cancer risks, despite current guidelines that suggest these discussions start sooner rather than later.
Shah went on to explain how survival rates begin to decline when malignancies are discovered at more advanced stages, such as when patients become aware of palpable lumps. She reiterated current guidelines recommending that women undergo a breast cancer risk assessments starting at age 25.
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In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She joined Innovate Healthcare in 2021 and has since put her unique expertise to use in her editorial role with Health Imaging.