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American Women Less Inclined to Go for Regular Mammograms

According to studies released by the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fewer women over forty years of age got a mammogram done in the past two years. The numbers dropped from 76.4% to 74.6% - statistics that are very worrying to health officials, especially since ? for the first time ? they have begun reporting a drop in the number of breast cancer cases in the country. In 1987, only around 30% of American women were having regular mammograms.

There are several reasons why officials feel that fewer women are inclined to have their breasts checked for signs of cancer. First off may be due to the fact that the U.S. health industry does not have enough screening centers to handle so many women over the age of forty. It was also felt that fewer women could afford health insurance, which covers ? even partially ? the cost of an annual mammogram. Another reason cited was a possible feeling of complacency among American women, who had reached a stage in their lives where they felt that there was no need to continue having mammograms after tests in previous years showed that everything was under control.

If present figures are anything to go by, it essentially means that a whopping 1-million less women are having mammograms done. If left undiagnosed, breast cancer can prove fatal and breast screenings have proven in the past to be one of the most effective ways of picking up the disease in its early stages. Health officials are studying several reports on the subject to try and gain a broader picture of the situation.