Have you had your Annual Mammogram?

Last week you read about “Are you in the know.” One of the questions asked was about mammogram and how often it is recommended that you get one. Recent research shows that African American women have the highest death rate from breast cancer because of inadequate screening. As a result of inadequate screening Black women and other minorities tend to have larger and more advance tumors than white women. The study showed that many Black women are never exposed to a mammogram until age 55 or have not received a mammogram at the desire time. The study also suggested that there is a biological difference in the breast cancer that Black women get as compare to white women. The reason for this health disparity is lack of access to facilities that do mammograms, financial barriers, and major personal and cultural barriers. Another reason that is often not mention is the lack of education that Black women do not get from their health provider. To every woman that read this, please get a mammogram if you have not done one. I am Dr. Thaddeus John Bell closing the gap in health care.