Health-Related Social Needs Can Keep Women from Getting Lifesaving Mammograms | VitalSigns

Breast cancer causes more than 40,000 deaths in women each year in the United States. Deaths due to breast cancer have decreased over time, yet some groups experience more deaths than others. For example, Black women, women who are uninsured, and women with low incomes are more likely to die from breast cancer. Screening mammograms have been shown to reduce breast cancer death by 22%.

Women face challenges to getting mammograms

The more health-related social needs a woman has in her life, the less likely she is to be up to date with mammograms that screen for breast cancer. Health-related social needs are adverse social conditions that can be barriers to a person’s health or health care. Examples include social isolation, job loss, lack of reliable transportation, insecurity around food or housing, and cost to access health care. Cost to access health care is one of the biggest challenges.

Regular mammograms can find breast cancer early

Getting screening mammograms regularly can help find breast cancer early when it is easier to treat. Women ages 50 to 74 years should get a screening mammogram every 2 years, as currently recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The task force is a group of doctors and disease experts who look at research on the best way to prevent diseases. This group makes recommendations on how doctors can help patients avoid diseases or find them early. Women ages 40 to 49 years should talk to their health care providers about when to start and how often to get a mammogram.