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Mammography use among women aged 18–39 years in the United States

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Recommendations for breast cancer screening using mammography target asymptomatic women aged ≥ 40 years who are not at increased risk for breast cancer. Evidence is not available to demonstrate benefits of screening with mammography at younger ages, and little is known about mammography use among younger women. This study described mammography use among women aged 18–39 years.

Methods

We analyzed data from the 2011–2015 National Survey of Family Growth, an in-person survey of a nationally representative sample of the U.S. household population. We estimated the prevalence of ever receiving a mammogram and examined reasons for the first mammograms among women aged 18–39 years without personal cancer history (n = 8324). We classified the first mammogram as a screening examination if it was performed either as part of a routine exam or because of family history of cancer.

Results

Among women aged 18–39 years, 14.3% (95% CI 13.2–15.4) reported ever having a mammogram. Prevalence of mammography use was highest among women aged 35–39 years (31.0%, 95% CI 27.8–34.5), and was higher among non-Hispanic black women than in other race/ethnicity groups. Women with a family history of breast cancer reported a higher prevalence of mammography use than women without this family history. For both women with and without a family history of breast cancer, about half of all first mammograms were performed for screening reasons.

Conclusions

Among U.S. women aged 18–39 years with no personal cancer history, one in seven reported having received a mammogram. Women with no family history of breast cancer were as likely as those with a family history to initiate breast cancer screening with mammography before age 40. Our findings provide evidence that supports further research to examine factors that prompt young women to receive screening mammograms.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Applied Research Branch, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 4770 Buford Highway MS F-76, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Jin Qin, Mary C. White & Susan A. Sabatino

  2. Reproductive Statistics Branch, Division of Vital Statistics, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, Hyattsville, MD, USA

    Isaedmarie Febo-Vázquez

Authors
  1. Jin Qin
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  2. Mary C. White
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  3. Susan A. Sabatino
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  4. Isaedmarie Febo-Vázquez
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Correspondence to Jin Qin.

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Conflict of interest

The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Qin, J., White, M.C., Sabatino, S.A. et al. Mammography use among women aged 18–39 years in the United States. Breast Cancer Res Treat 168, 687–693 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4625-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-017-4625-6

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