Media Release

Date: June 23, 2005
Contact: Sharon Marable, MD, MPH, 401-222-5353

Rhode Island Leads Nation in Mammography Screening for 2002 and 2004
Statewide and Community Efforts Pay Off for Rhode Island Women

Reports from the National Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) indicate that Rhode Island was one of the top states for mammography screening in 2002 and 2004. In 2002, Rhode Island had the highest percentage in the nation of women (age 40+) getting screening mammograms in the previous two years—85.4%. This compares to the national median of 76%. Rhode Island’s leadership position persisted in 2004 with a screening prevalence of 82.4%—tying with Delaware for first place.

“We are proud that Rhode Island has such an outstanding screening record,” said David Gifford, MD, MPH, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH). “This happened because the health care provider networks, the community, and HEALTH’s Women’s Cancer Screening Program all worked together and successfully reached out to women, particularly uninsured and underinsured women.”

The data come from year 2002 and 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys. Conducted by HEALTH, in collaboration with CDC, the BRFSS fields a random digit dial telephone survey of non-institutionalized adults every year. Although not all differences between states are statistically significant, the estimates clearly reflect variations across the nation.

"Mammography screening has been a paramount objective of the Women's Cancer Screening Program,” said Marlene McCarthy, H.L.D., Chair of the Rhode Island Breast Cancer Coalition . HEALTH's educational program concerning age-appropriate screening and collaboration with community-based organizations has guaranteed this success."

HEALTH recommends the following prevention advice to women in Rhode Island:

• Regular physical exercise, good nutrition and tobacco cessation reduce a woman’s risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke.
• Annual clinical breast exam by a medical provider, coupled with the American Cancer Society recommendation of annual screening mammograms beginning at age 40.
• Rhode Island women should make an appointment with their health care provider for their annual exam and ask their provider if it is appropriate to undergo mammography.
• Uninsured women should call the Women’s Cancer Screening Program’s in-state toll free line at 401-222-4324 for more information.

“Women should talk with their providers about getting mammograms to ensure continued good health—that’s key,” stated Sharon Marable, MD, MPH, Medical Director at HEALTH’s Office of Women’s Health. “We want women to know that early detection of cancer coupled with treatment saves lives”.

For more information visit www.health.ri.gov or the www.cdc.gov websites. For direct links to information on mammogram screening by state, go to:
2002 -- http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/
mmwrhtml/ss5305a1.htm#tab41
2004 -- http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/
list.asp?cat=WH&yr=2004&qkey=4421&state=All