Women with Disabilities and Breast Screening

Breast Cancer is a major health concern for all women, including women with disabilities. About 30% of women aged 40 years or older have a disability.  In the US in 2008, 76.2% of women aged 40 or older reported having a mammogram in the past two years, while women with a disability have a lower reported mammography rate than women without a disability.  The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has prepared a fact sheet that includes tips for women with disabilities to help them eliminate difficulties they may encounter while undergoing screening.    To view the CDC article, click HERE.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—-it’s a good time for ALL women to be sure they have appropriate screenings.  For the men who read this blog, make sure the women in your lives take care of themselves and find time to be screened.  Remember, too, that about 1% of breast cancer cases  (nearly 2,000 per year) are found in men so if you have an unusual growth or swelling in the chest area, have it checked out!  They sometimes do mammograms on men, too!