NEW YORK CITY – October 18, 2006 – Women who have a regular doctor and health insurance are almost twice as likely to receive a mammogram screening for breast cancer, according to new data released today by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Only about 40% of women without a regular doctor or

Compared with 2002, there has been a decline in the percent of New York City women aged 40 and over who report receiving a mammogram within the past 2 years. DOHMH is examining the decline to explore possible contributing factors.

• Percent of NYC Women 40+ Who Received a Mammogram in Past 2 Years (Access)
  All women age 40+	73%
  Women with Regular Doctor and Health Insurance	76%
  Women without Regular Doctor or Health Insurance	41%

• • In 2005, 73% of women had a mammogram in the past 2 years, down from 77% in 2002.
• • The percent of higher-income women who got mammograms dropped to 73% in 2005, down from 85% in 2002.
• • The proportion of Spanish-speaking women who got mammograms declined to 74% in 2005 from 85% in 2002. A smaller decrease was observed among English-speaking women, at 73% in 2005 compared with 77% in 2002.

“It is critical that all women aged 40 and older get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years,” said Dr. Mary Bassett, DOHMH’s Deputy Commissioner for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. “This simple screening can detect cancer in its earlier stages, help women get into treatment if they need it, and prevent more serious illness. Women with a family history of breast cancer should seek expert medical advice about whether to begin screening before the age of 40 and how often to get screened.”

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women should ask their doctor about getting a mammogram if they haven't had one recently. New York City's public hospitals offer life saving mammograms at little or no cost all year long. Women without a regular doctor can call 3-1-1 to find out more about free or low cost mammograms, or consult the list of public hospitals offering mammography below.

Breast Cancer and Mammography

Currently, breast cancer kills about 1,260 New Yorkers every year. Mammography is an important way to identify potential cancers at an earlier stage, and has been shown to reduce deaths from breast cancer. Take Care New York, the City’s health policy, urges New Yorkers to “Get Checked for Cancer,” including breast cancer. By 2008, DOHMH aims to increase the number of women age 40+ who received a mammogram in the past 2 years by 10%. This increase would amount to a total of 1.5 million New Yorkers screened for breast cancer, or 85% of all women 40 and older.

For more information on breast cancer, visit www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cancer/cancerbreast.shtml.

To make an appointment for a mammogram at a public hospital, consult the list of HHC hospitals offering mammography below and call the facility near you. Also, for a list of October screening dates visit: www.nyc.gov/html/hhc/downloads/pdf/tcny-type-2006.pdf.

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