Keeping Up with Your Mammograms Through COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted so many areas of our daily lives, like going to the doctor for check-ups and preventative screenings, like mammograms. According to Epic Health Research Network’s data, breast and cervical cancer screenings in the United States dropped by 94% during the first year of the pandemic.
This is troubling as delayed cancer screenings lead to late detection and delayed diagnoses and treatment. Taking into account how communities of color continue to be disproportionally affected by breast cancer, this is particularly alarming.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women and that only tells half the story. Although white women are diagnosed with breast cancer at a higher rate than women of color, more African-American and Hispanic women die from breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, black women are 40% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women. A contributing factor to this disparity is that African American and Hispanic women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when breast cancer has possibly spread and is harder to treat.
What can you do?
- Know your risk.
- Know your family’s history and talk to your provider about when to start having mammograms.
- Get your mammogram.
- Regular mammograms are crucial for detecting breast cancer at an early stage when it is easier to treat.
- Support your sisters.
- Urge the women in your life to schedule their mammogram.
- Become an advocate and join ACCESS’ Pin-A-Sister®/Examínate Comadre® program.
- Share breast health resources with your community by following our Pin-A-Sister®/Examínate Comadre® Facebook page.
- Advocate.
- Share messages to your network on social media channels.
How We Can Help
At ACCESS, we know that early detection saves lives. We offer referrals for breast cancer screenings. If you need support, Make An Appointment
Additional Resources
ACS Tips for Getting a Mammogram
As of November 14, 2022