View this post on the web at [link removed]
On a recent frigid winter morning, I went for my regular mammogram. It had been originally scheduled for late October, but a work trip required me to reschedule. I grabbed the next available appointment—for more than three months later.
Fortunately, I hear the same message from my doctor at most of my appointments: “No new changes; come back in a year unless you notice a change.” These words always bring an immediate sense of relief tinged with lingering anxiety. I was a couple of years out of college when I was first diagnosed with multiple fibroadenomas in both breasts. These benign tumors, while not life-threatening, marked the beginning of a long journey of vigilant monitoring. Over the years, this has involved biopsies, more frequent mammograms and sonograms, and an ever-present sword of Damocles lurking in my consciousness.
That's why for me a new initiative by Walmart, in partnership with RadNet, is a beacon of hope. The pilot project makes 3D mammography screenings available at Walmart Supercenters, starting with the one in Milford, Delaware, with more locations planned soon.
Increasing Access to Mammograms
Similar to the advances in breast imaging [ [link removed] ] in the last century, when screen-film mammography made breast imaging faster and more accurate while using lower-dose radiation, AI-assisted 3D mammography promises to be another significant advancement in breast imaging and screening. This technology is able to more quickly and more accurately analyze hundreds of digital breast images produced from multiple angles, offering more precise and detailed views of the breast tissue, which allows for earlier and more accurate detection of breast cancer [ [link removed] ], and no increase in false positives. 3D mammography also can theoretically produce immediate results, but the speed of the results still depends upon the availability of a radiologist to read the scans.
Mammogram Now [ [link removed] ], located inside the Milford, Delaware, Walmart Supercenter, takes both walk-ins and patients by appointment. The facility accepts most major insurance and, according to its website, will work with patients who don’t have an established physician to obtain a referral. In short, getting a mammogram couldn’t be much easier: It’s something you could cross off your shopping list while you’re getting groceries.
The increased accuracy of the screenings, convenience and accessibility of these clinics could help bridge the gap in early detection for many women. Breast cancers detected early tend to be easier to treat—with fewer requiring mastectomy, for example—are less likely to recur and usually result in a less debilitating illness. Furthermore, early-stage (stages 0 and 1) five-year survival rates for breast cancer are now approaching 100% [ [link removed] ].
Breast cancer, the second-leading cause [ [link removed] ] of cancer death among women, is not just a physical ailment. Its emotional toll is significant: It attacks one’s sense of self, body image and identity, often leaving deep psychological scars. The prospect of more accurate and convenient early detection means an overall less severe impact of the disease on the patient, less invasive treatments, a greater chance of long-term survival and more reason to hope.
Improving Prospects
Some of my lumps have grown, some have shrunk and new ones have emerged. Each change, no matter how small, sends a ripple of concern through me. Yet there’s a silver lining: Over the years, the prospects of cancer survival have consistently improved. My maternal grandmother succumbed to this cruel disease when I was a child. But a maternal first cousin has battled the disease twice now and is healthy. Multiple friends my age have also faced this disease and remain well today.
Today, about 40% fewer women will die [ [link removed] ] from breast cancer than in 1989, and the five-year survival rate is now 99% for localized cases [ [link removed] ]. But early detection isn’t the case for more than one-third of new diagnoses, and that can significantly affect treatment effectiveness and prognosis.
Additionally, socio-economic factors play a critical role. Lower-income and minority women often face barriers in accessing timely healthcare, resulting in later diagnoses, less timely follow-up and lower treatment compliance. These women are disproportionately represented among the more than 40,000 annual breast cancer deaths.
The promise of the Walmart project isn’t just in the numbers. It’s about real lives, about early interventions that could mean less invasive treatments, reduced suffering and countless relieved sighs from women who will learn that everything is still OK.
When I left the clinic and was stung by the single-digit air, I thought about how, even as a healthcare policy expert, I sometimes find it difficult to navigate the complexities of my own health. But healthcare may be one step closer to meeting us where we are. The world is changing, and with these advancements, perhaps our stories will have more hopeful endings.
Unsubscribe [link removed]?
