American doctors have noted that in the United States, only half of women who should regularly undergo mammograms and who have the option do do so, reports the American Association for Cancer Research.
Last year in the US, a group of independent prevention experts recommended raising the age for the first mammography screening from 40 to 50 years of age. Public opposition prevented this recommendation from being followed by insurance companies and other organizations.
The women sharply protested against the recommendation that would deprive them of their right to an annual mammogram. It is interesting, however, that a huge percentage of women do not regularly use the opportunity to conduct this test, said Milayna Subar from Medco Health Solutions.
A study by Subar found that in the 40-85 age group, only 50 percent of women with health insurance took part in the study from 2006 to 2009, and 60 percent had tested two or more times in the last four years. On average, 47 percent of women aged 40 to 49, 54 percent of women 50 to 64, and 45 percent of women 65 and over take part in mammography every year.
Scientists have not studied the reasons why attendance is so low. However, Subar says it may be due to the discomfort and fear the women feel during the test, as well as the lack of test credits.
Also in Poland, there is a problem related to the low attendance of women participating in mammography tests, although these tests are free in the 50-69 age group.
Mammography enables early detection of 90-95 percent of lesions, and the use of this method reduces female mortality due to breast cancer by 25-30 percent. The data from the National Health Fund show that the vast majority of Polish women do not take advantage of free preventive examinations. In 2007, the National Health Fund sent over 2,7 million invitations to breast cancer screening tests. Only 23,5 percent of those invited responded to them, and for the study to be population-based, 70 percent should participate in it (PAP).