Many Women Ignore Yearly Mammograms

Despite numerous public servicecampaigns emphasizing theimportance of mammograms, onlya small percentage of women followthe recommended guidelines.Yearly mammograms are recommendedfor women age 40 andolder. Data from >72,000 womenwho had mammograms from1985 to 2002 at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital's Avon ComprehensiveBreast Center revealedthat only 6% of women who had amammogram in 1992 received allthe annual screenings available tothem over the next decade.

As for subgroups, the researchersfound that women from lowerincome levels received fewermammograms, compared withwealthier women. Also, Hispanic,African American, and Asianwomen got fewer mammograms,compared with other women.Experts noted that women cannotrely on their physicians or theirhealth plan to remind them whento have the test. Therefore,women must develop their ownplan to follow the guidelines.