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1992.10.01 :  Study -- Breast Cancer Screening

Contact: Tom Reynolds (NCI) (301) 496-6641 Home (202) 966-6597
October 1, 1992

     HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced
findings from the National Cancer Institute showing the
percentage of American women over age 40 getting mammograms for
breast cancer screening nearly doubled between 1987 and 1990.
     In the most recent data, 33 percent reported having a
screening mammogram in the previous year, compared with 17
percent in 1987, based on women's responses to questions about
mammography from National Health Interview Surveys conducted in
1987 and 1990.  Mammography screening among women with no regular
source of health care increased proportionally even more, from 6
percent to 15 percent.
     "With the release of these findings, we begin National
Breast Cancer Awareness Month on an encouraging note, Secretary
Sullivan said.  "A doubling in just three years is good news.  At
the same time, we must renew our efforts to ensure that all
women, including members of minority groups and underserved
populations, receive quality screening."
     October 1992 is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a
nationwide program dedicated to educating American women and
their families about the importance of early detection of breast
cancer.  Begun in 1985 as Breast Cancer Awareness Week, its
sponsors now include government and industry groups, professional
societies and voluntary organizations.
     "The new data on mammography show we are making progress
toward our Year 2000 goal for breast cancer screening, said
Assistant Secretary for Health James Mason, M.D., who heads the
Public Health Service.  "But to reach the goal we need to keep up
the momentum.  Mammography has the potential to reduce mortality
from breast cancer by 30 percent."
     The national "Healthy People 2000" initiative, launched in
1991, set a goal of 60 percent of women 50 and older following
mammography guidelines by 2000.
     The rise in screening among women with no health care source
is especially significant, said NCI's Nancy Breen, Ph.D., because
it suggests government and voluntary public health organizations
are succeeding in their goal of encouraging women to have
mammograms.  Breen conducted the study with NCI colleague Larry
Kessler, Sc.D.
     "Surveys show that the main reasons many women don't get
mammograms are because they don't know they need them, and their
doctors don't recommend them," she said.  "The fact that women
without a regular source of health care more than doubled their
utilization of screening mammography is a good sign.  It shows
that breast cancer education programs may be working.
     "Of course, it's also important that primary care physicians
recommend mammograms to their patients and provide a physical
breast exam."
     The National Cancer Institute recommends that women aged 50
and older have annual mammograms, and women between 40 and 50
have them every one to two years.  In addition, NCI recommends
that physicians do annual clinical breast examinations in women
over 40 and encourage women of all ages to practice monthly
breast self-examination.
     Since January 1991, Medicare has covered screening
mammograms every other year for women aged 65 and older.
     "It's crucial that women over 65 have regular mammograms,"
Breen said.  "They are the group at greatest risk for breast
cancer, yet they tend to use the procedure least."

     The National Health Interview Survey is a representative
sampling of Americans' health, illness and disability status,
including health-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.  It
is conducted annually by the National Center for Health
Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control.

     The NCI findings will be published in graphic form in the
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Oct. 21.

     Sponsors of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month include
two HHS agencies, NCI and CDC.  Other sponsors are the American
Academy of Family Physicians, American Cancer Society, American
College of Radiology, American Medical Women's Association,
American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer Care, Inc., ICI
Pharmaceuticals Group, National Alliance of Breast Cancer
Organizations, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Y-Me.

     Information on mammography and all aspects of breast cancer
may be obtained by calling NCI's Cancer Information Service.  The
toll-free number is 1-800-4-CANCER.

     NCI and its parent National Institutes of Health, and the
National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, are part of the
Public Health Service within HHS.




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