Routine mammograms can save lives

The Center for Disease Control released its latest Vital Signs Report this April. The report covered what the CDC calls “Health-Related Social Needs,” which prevent women from getting standard mammograms. “Health-related social needs are adverse social conditions that can be barriers to a person’s health or health care. Examples include food insecurity and lack of access to reliable transportation,” said Dr. Debra Houry, the CDC’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science.& Over 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year in the U.S., according to the CDC, who recommends starting treatment as early as possible. Routine mammograms have been shown to reduce breast cancer deaths by 22%, according to the report. Data from women ages 40 to 74 who responded to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System helped the CDC better understand the connection between getting regular mammograms and health-related social needs. “Our study found that over 83% of the women aged 50 to 74 who had no health-related social needs had received a mammogram in the previous two years, as compared to only about 67% with three or more health-related needs receiving a mammogram in the previous two years,” said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, the...