Women’s Perception of the Mammogram Screening

The usefulness of imaging methods for the diagnosis of breast cancer is widely known. Breast cancer is a malignant disease in which, if acted on time, good outcomes are obtained. For women at average risk for breast cancer, mammograms should be performed every year, beginning at age 40. Based on a recent survey of 489 women, 62% of them being more than 45 years old, 33% had their mammogram done this year despite the pandemic*. Nevertheless, due to social distancing measurements and health restrictions and stress about pain during the mammogram, 53% of women went 1-2 years without their annual mammogram.

 Previously published studies  found that women tend to prefer female physicians during their mammogram screenings due to embarrassment and discomfort. Supporting this claim, over 40% of the women who were surveyed preferred women physicians. 

 Mammograms are the selected gold standard tests used in the United States for breast cancer screening, despite how uncomfortable they may be. Discomfort during a mammogram differs from patient to patient, and many patients feel discomfort due to the compression of the breast that is necessary in mammogram exams. On a scale of 1 to 5, being 1 an extremely uncomfortable procedure, almost 50% of respondents rated the comfort level of their last mammogram moderately to extremely uncomfortable and more than 25% of them experienced pain during their last mammogram.

 The biggest takeaway from the recent survey was this: more than half of respondents would prefer a mammogram that does not compress the breasts. Breast CT is one form of breast imaging that is comfortable, accurate, and low dose. As the breast imaging industry moves into the future, it is time that clinicians consider breast CT as a viable alternative to conventional mammograms.

For more information, go to www.koninghealth.com.  

 *Survey sponsored by Koning Health