Nationwide surveys reveal that early detection of breast cancer has increased considerably in recent years, but in 1993 only 47 percent of the women aged 50-64 years and 39 percent of women aged 70 years or older reported having a recent mammogram. Rates of screening are lower among some disadvantaged groups. Uninsured women have low rates of all types of preventive care, including breast and cervical cancer screening. Women with fewer years of education, elderly women, and members of some racial and ethnic minority groups also have lower screening rates. Reasons for lower rates of screening include lack of a regular medical provider, lack of health insurance, and lack of information about the importance of early cancer detection.
Most women have options that range from breast conservation to mastectomy.
Breast conservation includes a surgical procedure, commonly known as a lumpectomy, to remove the cancerous mass or lump from the breast, followed then by several weeks of radiation treatments to the breast. In a mastectomy, the entire breast is removed. In a majority of cases, breast cancer patients choosing mastectomy will not have to undergo radiation. Early detection provides a woman with a much greater chance of survival and a wider range of treatment options. However, if breast cancer is detected early enough, it can be removed, treated, and prevented from spreading.