US mammography rates may be falling

Rates of mammography in the United States may be falling, a new study shows. Rates fell from 70% to 66% between 2000 and 2005, and the researchers say that this may explain some of the apparent recent decline in the incidence of breast cancer (Cancer 2007 May 14 doi: 10.1002/cncr.22723).

Possible reasons for the decline in mammography include an increase in the number of women who do not have health insurance, reduced perceived risk because of reports of decreasing mortality from the disease, and a lack of emphasis on mammography in health promotion campaigns. …