Breast cancer
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The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helps low income, uninsured, and underserved women gain access to lifesaving screening programs for early detection of
breast and
cervical cancers. Many deaths from breast and cervical cancers could be avoided by increasing cancer screening rates among women at risk. Deaths from these diseases occur disproportionately among women who are uninsured or underinsured.
Mammography and
Papanicolaou (Pap) tests are underused by women who have no source, or no regular source of healthcare; women without health insurance; and women who immigrated to the United States within the last 10 years. Studies show that early detection of breast and cervical cancers saves lives. Timely mammography screening among women aged 40 years or older could reduce
breast cancer mortality by approximately 16% compared with women who are not screened. Pap tests can find cervical cancer at an early stage when it is most curable or even prevent the disease if precancerous lesions found during the test are treated. Mammography is the best available method to detect breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage— an average of 1 to 4 years before a woman can feel a lump. Women aged 40 years or older should have a screening
mammogram every 1 to 2 years.
Cervical cancer screening using the Pap test detects not only cancer but also precancerous lesions. Women should begin getting a Pap test with the start of sexual activity, but no later than at 18 years of age, and repeat the test at least every 3 years.
The facts
Breast cancer
- Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women.
- It is second to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
- Seventy-five percent of all diagnosed cases of breast cancer are among women aged 50 years or older
Cervical cancer
- The incidence of invasive cervical cancer has decreased significantly over the last 40 years, in large part because of screening for, and treatment of, precancerous cervical lesions.
- According to the CDC study, "Cervical Cancer Mortality Among Foreign-Born Women Living in the United States, 1985—1996," death rates from cervical cancer increased for foreign-born women while continuing to decrease for U.S.-born women from 1985 through 1996.
- Routine screening for cervical cancer can prevent most occurrences of this disease.
Source: American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures 2004.
