The 9,600 Missed Diagnoses: How Geography Still Shapes Breast Cancer Outcomes

Despite improvements over the past few decades in breast cancer detection and care, an important new report says that 9,600 early-stage detections are being missed annually in the U.S.

Ten years ago, the results of this new Milken Institute report would have been unsurprising. But after a decade of attention, resources, and federal funding and policy focused on that breast cancer, there are still barriers to adoption. And it’s not what you might think.

The report - which is well worth a read over the weekend - emphasizes that population density, and ultimately, your zip code, are still determinants of healthcare access and outcomes. The study used the location of mammography machines in the U.S. to help predict areas that could use greater focus to ensure greater early detection of breast cancer.

First, some context:

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., expected to impact 42,000 women per year. In the past few decades, significant work has been done to ensure earlier detection. The Affordable Care Act helped by making it a covered preventative care service for women over the age of 40 – requiring private insurers and Medicare to cover the costs.