New Study Shows Mobile Mammography Reach is Highest in Underserved Groups with Low Breast Cancer Screening Adherence

A recent study by the Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute demonstrates that mobile mammography is generally used by women otherwise unlikely to be screened, and thus is complementary to facility-based mammography rather than a substitute for it. Hence, mobile mammography could feasibly increase breast cancer screening rates, especially in traditionally underserved communities. This study, published in Clinical Breast Cancer, was based on 2.6 million women with Medicare fee-for-service insurance during the 2004-2021 period.

Study Underscores Social Factors of Low Breast Cancer Screening in the U.S.

To identify major social factors hindering breast cancer screening in U.S. women aged 40 and older, researchers focused on race/ethnicity, employment, education, food security, insurance status, housing and access to quality health care. Access to health care emerged as a statistically significant theme (61 percent) and insurance status was the most reported sub-categorical factor. Language was the third highest issue, highlighting its significance as an influential factor of screening behavior. Race/ethnicity, sex/gender and sexual orientation were additional factors reported.

Cancer screenings have saved the U.S. at least $6.5 trillion, study estimates

Americans have gotten at least 12 million more years of life to live because of preventive cancer screenings they’ve gotten the past 25 years, a new study estimates. That adds up to at least $6.5 trillion in added economic impact, because of scans and tests that look for early signs of breast, colon, cervical and lung cancer in adults at the highest risk.

Study Uncovers Barriers to Mammography Screening Among Black Women

The study finds utilization of annual screening mammograms suboptimal among low-income Black women with several reported perceived and actual barriers. Most had a low breast cancer risk perception. Interestingly, participants perceived mammograms as very beneficial: 80 percent believed that ‘if breast cancer is found early, it’s likely that the cancer can be successfully treated;’ 90 percent indicated that ‘having a mammogram could help find breast cancer when it is first getting started.’

UC San Diego Health Oncologist Addresses New Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has updated mammography screening guidelines for breast cancer detection to every other year beginning at age 40 instead of 50. This recommendation is based on new evidence of a rise in breast cancer…

New ACR Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines call for earlier and more-intensive screening for high-risk women

New ACR breast cancer screening guidelines urge all women, particularly Black and Ashkenazi Jewish women, to have a risk assessment by age 25 to determine if screening before age 40 is needed. The ACR urges average-risk women to start yearly screening at 40, but earlier screening for high-risk women.

American Indian/Native American women have lower mammography use even if they have higher income

A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute study found that for American Indian/Native American women, living in above-average-income communities was not associated with higher mammography use compared to American Indian/Native American women living in below-average-income communities.

Travel Time for Breast Cancer Screening Remains Long for Many Women in the U.S., New Study Shows

A new study led by researchers at the American Cancer Society (ACS) shows travel time to the nearest mammography facility is long for a considerable proportion of women in the United States, particularly affecting more than 50% of women in rural areas in 28 states.

NCCN Publishes New Patient Guidelines for Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis Emphasizing Annual Mammograms for All Average-Risk Women Over 40

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has published new NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis to help people understand their personal risk for breast cancer, when they should begin screening, and how often to screen—in order to detect cancer earlier, for more treatment options and better outcomes.

New Breast Imaging Technology at Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center Delivers Mammograms in 3D and Enhances Delivery of Care

Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical Center is advancing the fight against breast cancer with the purchase and installation of MAMMOMAT Revelation, an innovative mammography system designed to overcome barriers to breast cancer detection and ProFound Artificial Intelligence for digital breast tomosynthesis, a deep-learning artificial intelligence software that rapidly and accurate identifies potential malignant lesions.

Catching more breast cancers when mammograms are limited

In one of the largest research projects of its kind, a new study published in JAMA Network Open looks at nearly 900,000 individuals and close to 2 million mammograms to come up with a new way to detect the most breast cancer cases with the fewest exams.

Mammography Protections in Year End Legislation Help Address Breast Cancer Care Disparities

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®), Society of Breast Imaging® (SBI®), patient advocates and others secured an extension of the moratorium on harmful 2009 and 2016 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines from Dec. 31, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022. Without this added protection gained in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Omnibus and Coronavirus Relief Bill), under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), mammography coverage for women younger than 50 may have been impacted starting Jan. 1, 2022. The newly passed bill ensures that women ages 40 and older who want annual screening mammograms will retain insurance coverage with no copay.

Medical Oncologist Dr. Shilpi Gupta Joins Atlantic Health System Cancer Care’s Comprehensive Breast Health Program

Atlantic Health System Cancer Care today announced that fellowship-trained medical oncologist, Shilpi Gupta, MD, has joined Morristown Medical Center’s comprehensive breast health program where her focus is breast oncology and research. Dr. Gupta is on staff at Atlantic Hematology Oncology at the hospital’s Carol G. Simon Cancer Center.

UChicago Medicine, in partnership with Solis Mammography, opens two new breast health centers

Solis Mammography, the nation’s largest independent provider of breast health and diagnostic services, is expanding access to 3D mammography and diagnostic breast health procedures through a partnership with University of Chicago Medicine.

COVID-19 Impacted Breast Cancer Screening, Health Disparities Continue

UC San Diego Health experts available to discuss these and related topics during Breast Cancer Awareness Month  Mammography is the most effective tool for screening breast cancer, using X-rays to identify abnormalities in breast tissues. Although health care facilities saw…

New Study Finds COVID-19 Impact on Community Radiology Practices

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickly spread across all 50 United States. Associated recommendations that healthcare facilities defer non-urgent visits, tests, and procedures led many imaging facilities to temporarily curtail most of their non-urgent services. This new Neiman Institute study characterizes the recent declines in non-invasive imaging volumes at community practices.

ACR, BCRF and GE Healthcare Announce Trial to Evaluate Use of Contrast Enhanced Mammography for Screening Women with Dense Breasts

In a new effort to improve early breast cancer detection and reduce false positive exams in women with dense breasts, the American College of Radiology, Breast Cancer Research Foundation and GE Healthcare are partnering to support the Contrast Enhanced Mammography Imaging Screening Trial (CMIST).