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Updated: Apr 10, 2026
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Published on: November 14, 2025
Do Not Overlook Me: Breast Cancer in Appalachian Women Ages 28-49 Diagnosed Through A Mobile Mammogram Unit (MMU)
R Eric Heidel1, L Mae King1, Savannah Allen1
1University of Tennessee Medical Center (UTMC) Cancer Institute (CI), Tennessee, USA.
Objective:
Unfortunately, both the incidence and mortality rates for women ages 20-49 diagnosed with breast cancer have continued to rise in the USA for the past two decades. Causality remains unknown; however, the controversy regarding screening this population persists. A paucity of data exists to define the effectiveness and diagnostic yield of mobile mammogram unit (MMU) screening in this cohort. Our data supports the screening recommendations of organizations such as the American College of Radiology, the Society of Breast Imaging, the American Society of Breast Surgeons, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, the American Cancer Society, and the USPSTF among others, emphasizing the importance of screening this vulnerable population that otherwise would not have been screened.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including these women screened between 2008 and 2023 was performed. Frequency (n) and percentage (%) statistics along with Medians (Mdn) and interquartile ranges (IQR) were used to generate measures of prevalence within the population. The patient electronic health record was used to record demographic information.
Results:
A total of n = 15,124 screenings were performed in this unique demographic population. The median age for the cohort was 44.7 years (IQR: 42.0-47.0). Most screenings were completed using 2D technology (n = 10,209, 67.5%). A total of n = 2,779 received their first-ever mammogram (18.4%). There were n = 41 malignancies detected (prevalence - 0.3%; age range 37-49) in 39 women. Interestingly, n = 13 of these 41 malignancies (32%) were detected in women having their first mammogram.
Conclusion:
This data provides compelling evidence for utilization of MMU programs to screen this young, vulnerable population and revealed that 32% of breast cancers were identified at the time of their first ever mammogram with a median age of 44.7. Further studies are needed to validate early screening in this patient population.
