• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • Events
  • Articles
  • Contact
kentuckiana health collaborative 1

Kentuckiana Health Collaborative

Building a bridge to better health, better care and better value

  • Optimizing Health 2021
  • About
    • Mission
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Strategies
    • Improve Healthcare Quality
    • Make Healthcare More Affordable
    • Build Healthier Communities
  • Initiatives
    • Community Measurement
    • COVID-19
    • Health Equity
    • Kentucky Core Healthcare Measures Set
    • National Hospital Price Transparency Study
    • Opioids and the Workplace
  • Members
    • About the Membership
    • Current Members
    • Member Resources
    • Member Portal
  • Join
Home / Community Health / Mammograms Not a Health Service to Skip, Despite the Pandemic

Mammograms Not a Health Service to Skip, Despite the Pandemic

Filed Under: Community Health, COVID-19 October 22, 2020, Stephanie Clouser

(Note: This guest blog post was written by Suresh K. Mukherji, MD, MBA, FACR)

breast cancer image

Have you put off essential health screenings as a result of the pandemic?

Approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society. This makes it the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. There is a special emphasis on appropriate screening and early detection of breast cancer, because when breast cancer is detected early there are more treatment choices and better chances for survival. The five-year survival rate for women who are diagnosed at Stage 0 or Stage I cancer is nearly 100 percent, while women who aren’t diagnosed until Stage IV only have about a 22 percent five-year survival rate. Current screening guidelines recommend that women ages 50 to 74 should have a mammogram at least every two years, but screenings are recommended earlier than 50 for certain groups such as African-American women or women with a gene mutation known as BRCA.

Unfortunately, this year, the global pandemic is threatening these important, life-saving screenings. In the early onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many non-essential health services, including mammograms, were delayed, or canceled. Mammograms, which fell 77 percent at the height of the pandemic, are still down 23 percent, according to the New York Times. I have personally seen numerous patients with other types of cancer presenting with more advanced disease because they delayed seeing their physician due to COVID concerns. Many could have cured if they had seen their physicians when they first noticed a “lump”.

With improved infection control procedures, routine preventative services have resumed. So long as a person is not feeling sick or displaying COVID-19 symptoms, it is safe and important for them to receive their annual mammogram screening. Healthcare systems are at the forefront of providing the safest environments to protect patients. So, please to do not hesitate to schedule your mammograms. Please remember that mammograms save lives!

SHARE:

Similar Articles

HaveAHeartClinic 01

Acknowledging Racial Disparities in Cardiovascular Care during American Heart Month

February 16, 2021

(Note: This blog post was written by Michael Imburgia, MD, Cardiologist and Founder of Have a Heart Clinic. Have a Heart Clinic provides free cardiovascular care to those at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. February is American Heart Month, and as awareness is raised about preventing heart […]

Read More
GildasClub 01

How Gilda’s Club Threw Me an Emotional Lifeline After Cancer

February 9, 2021

(NOTE: This guest blog post was written by Ron Cooper. Ron Cooper attends Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana where they provide support for families living with cancer;  men, women, and children, any type of cancer, any stage, survivorship and bereavement; all at no cost to participants. For more information please call 502-583-0075 […]

Read More
shutterstock 556416004 1 1

National Influenza Vaccination Week Highlights Ongoing Importance of Flu Vaccination

December 16, 2020

Every year, flu season occurs during the fall and winter in the United States. It is recommended that everyone six months and older receive a flu vaccine yearly to protect themselves from the virus. Flu vaccination can help reduce the severity of flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed obligations as […]

Read More

Get the latest articles and updates.

Our email newsletter shares our latest research, initiatives and events.

Footer

  • About
    • Mission
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Members
    • About the Membership
    • Member Resources
    • Join the Membership
  • Strategies
    • Improve Healthcare Quality
    • Make Healthcare More Affordable
    • Build Healthier Communities
  • Initiatives
    • Community Measurement
    • COVID-19
    • Health Equity
    • National Hospital Price Transparency Study
    • Opioids and the Workplace
  • Connect
    • Events
    • Articles
    • Contact
khc logo blue

(502) 238-3603
1415 Bardstown Road, Mailbox 19, Louisville, KY 40204

Copyright © 2021 · Kentuckiana Health Collaborative · Privacy Policy · Sitemap · Stop Animations

2021 Conference Graphic Wide

REGISTER NOW