Physicians across the country use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an opportunity to encourage patients to undergo screenings that help save lives. Estimates state that more than 310,000 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
Knowledge and access are power. An article in the RSNA’s RadioGraphics journal reported last year that despite having a 5.8% lower incidence of breast cancer, Black women have a 40.7% higher mortality rate than non-Hispanic white women.
“Through Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are able to reach new audiences, including people from diverse backgrounds,” said Toma Omofoye, MD, an associate professor in the department of breast imaging at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. “While mammography screening and precision medicine have contributed to incredible improvements in breast cancer survival, disparities persist. The higher risk for certain racial and ethnic groups, such as Black women and Ashkenazi Jews, may be unknown to many women. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to reach diverse communities to empower them.”
Along with several other duties, Pauline Germaine, DO, is an attending physician and vice chair of research and education in the department of radiology at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. She said many of her institution’s programs aim to help people in inner-city Camden. Approximately 30 percent of the community’s residents live below the poverty line, a significant hurdle to accessing health care.
“We hold discussions and workshops on stress-busting techniques and creating healing practices to support women’s health and well-being,” Dr. Germaine said. “Community discussions center on the topics of breast health and breast density, screening examinations and genetics, genomics, and managing risk.”
Her hospital’s Cooper Foundation finishes Breast Cancer Awareness Month with its Pink and Teal event that brings physicians and patients together to celebrate their partnership in the fight against cancers.
“It embraces the power of hope and the strength of sisterhood in helping women on their cancer journey,” Dr. Germaine said. “Pink and Teal is a vibrant and uplifting event where patients and providers come together to connect, recharge, and celebrate. It’s a time to honor our patients and their remarkable successes on the journey through treatment and recovery.”
Amy K. Patel, MD, a breast radiologist and medical director of the breast care center at Liberty Hospital in the Kansas City area, grew up in a small community that was served mostly by male physicians. She’s helping further diversify the field as an associate professor of radiology at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine and through activities with associations and societies.
“It’s wonderful to see that we are showing a commitment to diversity in our field, particularly through initiatives from the Society of Breast Imaging and American College of Radiology,” Dr. Patel said. “However, we still have a lot of work to do to see diverse representation in the specialty of radiology and subspecialty of breast imaging.”
Dr. Omofoye agrees that it’s vital for treatment teams to identify with the people they serve. Having more and diverse women pursuing breast imaging as a career has countless benefits.
“It has been shown that diversity in healthcare teams contributes to improved critical thinking and engagement, and is associated with increased patient satisfaction, improved access, and improved outcomes,” she said.
Improving access to care and having diverse treatment teams is all about saving lives. Dr. Patel sees brighter days ahead.
“In the Kansas City Metro, we have a Breast Health Equity Task Force, where our goal is to reduce deaths in Black and Hispanic women, many of whom are underserved,” she said. “With coalition building, awareness, and boots on the ground advocacy, we can improve this state of breast cancer affairs for our most vulnerable populations.”