Several research findings seem to conclude that there are disparities in health care based on ethnicity of the patients. Now, new reports come out with the indication that minority women are not getting their mammograms done as regularly as desired. Since they also face a higher risk of aggressive breast cancer, this is not a problem that should be treated lightly. Mammograms can easily be done by women across all socioeconomic strata, but minority women seem to be lagging behind in getting screened though they are at an increased risk for breast cancer. Researchers are keen on finding the answer to the vexing issue of why minority women are more susceptible to aggressive and advanced breast cancer in spite of having relatively easy access to screening facilities like mammograms. When breast cancer is detected early, the chances of a complete cure are very high. This is why it is so important for all women to undergo regular mammograms, so that any suspicious lump or cell change may be detected as early as possible and treated. Though some women do take their health seriously and get regular screening and check ups done, others are not so cautious and tend to take their health for granted. Several African American women fall into the latter category when it comes to screening and detection of Breast CancerWhen screening is not done at the right time and with regularity, the chances of early detection are drastically reduced. Add to it the fact that African American women are more at risk for more aggressive types of tumors, and therefore even when the diagnosis is made early enough, the tumor develops more aggressively and at a much faster rate. This makes it especially important for African American women to take their mammograms seriously. Researchers suggest that it is better to start routine screening at 35 years of age rather than wait till 40 because of the higher risk prevalent in the population. Research conducted seems to clearly indicate that African American women are falling short of getting their routine mammograms, and they are less likely to be screened. Researchers are digging deep into finding out why there is less likelihood of African American women getting screened with mammograms. Are physicians not ordering them or are the women not getting to the physicians at all? The answer seems to be a combination of all the factors including doctors, other healthcare professionals and lack of awareness of the patients themselves. Sometimes women tend to neglect their health unless the community actively reaches out to them and reminds them of the importance of taking care of themselves. Free screening clinics, concerted effort by churches and communities, and Medicaid are required to overcome the unfortunate situation of minority women not taking adequate precautions about their health.
Please Rate this Article 5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5
Not yet Rated
