Mammography: Capacity Generally Exists to Deliver Services	 
(19-APR-02, GAO-02-532).					 
                                                                 
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among 
American women. In 2001, 192,200 new cases of breast cancer were 
diagnosed and 40,200 women died from the disease. The probability
of survival increases significantly, however, when breast cancer 
is discovered in its early stages. Currently, the most effective 
technique for early detection of breast cancer is screening	 
mammography, an X-ray procedure that can detect small tumors and 
breast abnormalities up to two years before they can be detected 
by touch. Nationwide data indicate that mammography services are 
generally adequate to meet the growing demand. Between 1998 and  
2000, both the population of women 40 and older and the extent to
which they were screened increased by 15 percent. Although	 
mammography services are generally available, women in some	 
locations have problems obtaining timely mammography services in 
some metropolitan areas. However, the greatest losses in capacity
have come in rural counties. In all, 121 counties, most of them  
rural, have experienced a drop of more than 25 percent in the	 
number of mammography machines in the last three years. Officials
from 37 of these counties reported that the decrease had not had 
a measurable adverse effect on the availability of mammography	 
services. By contrast, in 18 metropolitan counties that lost a	 
smaller percentage of their total capacity, officials in half of 
the counties reported service disruptions. Officials from six	 
other urban areas, including Houston and Los Angeles, reported	 
that public health facilities serving low income women had long  
waiting times. However, most women whose clinical exam or initial
mammogram indicated a need for a follow-up mammogram were able to
get appointments within one to three weeks.			 
-------------------------Indexing Terms------------------------- 
REPORTNUM:   GAO-02-532 					        
    ACCNO:   A03080						        
  TITLE:     Mammography: Capacity Generally Exists to Deliver	      
Services							 
     DATE:   04/19/2002 
  SUBJECT:   Breast cancer					 
	     Disease detection or diagnosis			 
	     Health care services				 
	     Health statistics					 
	     Medical equipment					 
	     Medical examinations				 
	     Women						 
	     CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance		 
	     System						 
                                                                 
	     Medicare Program					 


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GAO-02-532
     
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