Breast cancer rescreening in low-income women

Routine mammography screening with clinical breast examination is effective in reducing breast cancer mortality. The Breast and Cervical Health Program (BCHP) in Washington State provides free breast and cervical cancer screening for low-income women, with an emphasis on women of color. This study examined initial breast cancer rescreening and factors associated with rescreening for women enrolled in BCHP in King County, Washington.

Data were obtained from the Washington State BCHP tracking system. We estimated the percentages who received breast cancer rescreening for women enrolled between July 1994 and December 1995 using survival analysis. Cox proportional regression was also used to examine factors associated with time-until-rescreening.

Survival analysis showed that the overall percentages rescreened at 15 and 27 months for women aged 50-69 were 25.7% and 45.0%, respectively. For women aged 40-49, the corresponding percentages were 26.0% and 40.3%. Rescreening differed by age groups, race/ethnicity, level of education, foreign born status, history of previous mammography, and enrollment clinic.

Results from this study suggested that in addition to initial efforts for enrollment, screening programs should emphasize increased rescreening especially for women with certain demographic and screening history characteristics.