Montana Makes the Top 10 Of Women Not Getting Mammograms

Montana Makes the Top 10 Of Women Not Getting Mammograms

Breast Cancer Awareness month is underway, bringing light to a common concern among women, and also men.  With as much hype that is brought about by cancer, and especially with breast cancer, why aren't Montana women getting screened?

Is it the stigmatism about it?  Is it because of vanity?  If it involves whether or not you are still upright, how can we not have it done?

Statistics Alone Should Be Enough to Convince You to Go

In a recent survey by Avon, it revealed that 33% of women are "too scared" to check their breasts for cancer.  Other findings include:

• one in 2,000 women will develop breast cancer by the age of 29
• one in 22 will have had it before they hit 60 years of age
• 57% of women forget to check their breasts for lumps on a regular basis

Scary statistics.  But if that doesn't convince you, here are a few more:

• in 2020, approximately 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed worldwide
• it is estimated that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime
• breast cancer doesn't discriminate, it can affect people of all genders

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Reasons Montana Women Aren't Getting Screened - An Idea

In Montana, our statistics aren't great.  About 26% of women aged 50-74 in the state haven't had a mammogram in over 2 and half years.

Why?  It could be some of the above reasons that are leading women to shun the doctor.  But could it also be access to those doctors?  Rural health facilities in Montana are few and far between which could lead to women not wanting to travel great distances for that appointment.

What are your thoughts?  You can email me here to let us know.