*Breast Cancer- Screening Associated to Wealth and Ethnicity in England
Researchers in England found that women owning cars and homes were more likely to have breast and cervical cancer screenings. In England, women aged fifty to seventy are encouraged to get breast screening every three years. Women aged twenty five to sixty-four are encouraged to get cervical cancer screening every three to five years.
An encouraging finding was that 84 percent of the eligible women have had both cervical and breast cancer screening. There was a higher probability of Caucasian women who own cars and homes to have had the screening.
In America the American Cancer Society recommends mammograms every year after age 40 and more frequently per doctor’s recommendations if there is a reason, such as a family history of breast cancer. They recommend cervical cancer screening pap smears 3 years after starting intercourse or no later than age 21 and yearly thereafter. After 3 normal tests in a row after age 30, frequency can decrease to every 3 years.
Check with your doctor regarding your specific needs. In West Virginia if you need financial assistance, screenings may be provided free to those who qualify. Check out the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources for information on their West Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program (WVBCCSP). There is information on how the under and uninsured can participate in breast and cervical screening services.
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/338/jun16_2/b2025 accessed 6-24-2009
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_2_3x_acs_cancer_detection_guidelines_36.asp accessed 6-24-2009
http://www.wvdhhr.org/bccsp/ accessed 6-24-2009
Breast Cancer, Screen in Breast Cancer, Screen Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 11:21AM 
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend