Few Women Have Mammograms

At least eight out of 10 women at risk of developing breast cancer never have had a mammogram despite studies that show the test can be a lifesaver, federal health officials reported Thursday.

The national Centers for Disease Control said nearly one-third of the women in a Rhode Island study said they do not believe mammograms are necessary, while 23% said their doctors had never recommended the test, which can detect breast cancer in its early stages.

“Despite the demonstrated efficacy of mammography in screening for breast cancer, most previous studies have shown that few women in the recommended age group are screened regularly,” the CDC said. “The preponderance of evidence from national surveys indicates that 20% or fewer women in target groups for breast cancer screening have ever had a mammogram.”

The National Cancer Institute has recommended the increased use of mammography as a key cancer screening objective by the year 2000--specifically that women between the ages of 40 and 49 have a mammogram every one or two years and women age 50 and older have a mammogram every year.