Menopausal women who cease using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are also likely to miss regular mammogram screening according to a recently published US study.
HRT use has been in steady decline since the 2002 WHI study published the link between HRT use and a rise in breast cancer. US researchers also began noticing in the years after the study was published, a decrease in the number of women having regular mammograms.
The National Cancer Institute researchers discovered the link when they examined more than 7000 women about their HRT use and mammogram screening between 2000 and 2005. They found the change in HRT use was associated with a drop in mammogram screening for women aged 50 to 64 but not for women > 65 years.
As reported in AAP, researchers believed women were more likely to have had regular mammograms if they were on HRT, regularly spoke with a GP, were well educated and had private health insurance. The researchers believed that because HRT was prescribed by GPs, women using the treatment made more regular visits to their doctor and so heard constant reminders about having mammograms.
"Our research corroborates that a doctor's recommendation is an important step in getting a mammogram and it shows that when circumstances change - such as evidence about HRT - it can upset the balance and lead to unanticipated and undesirable changes in mammography use," the study's lead author Nancy Breen said.
BreastScreen Victoria chief executive, Vicki Pridmore, said work was underway in Australia to develop an alert system for GPs to remind them to ask women about whether they had had a mammogram.
"If you go to your GP for something else, up would come your file on their computer screen and a message saying that the woman hasn't had their mammogram," she told AAP.
While Australian women aged over 40 are entitled to have free mammograms every two years, BreastScreen Victoria actively recruits women aged between 50-69 years by sending invitation letters and reminder letters. Screening is considered crucial for 50-69 year olds because half of all breast cancers diagnosed are detected in that age group.
BreastScreen Victoria's Broadmeadows service continues to operate at 1100 Pascoe Vale Road. For more information on how BreastScreen Victoria can support your practice please contact your local Screening and Assessment Service on 8387 2654. For all screening appointments ring 13 20 50.