Breast cancer diagnoses delayed by housing and food insecurities

Women who experience food or housing insecurities are more likely to take longer between breast imaging and follow-up consultations, putting them at greater risk for undiagnosed breast cancer. They are more likely to miss their follow-up appointments, according to research at the Boston University School of Medicine.

Researchers examined medical records from two groups of women who both received breast imaging at the Boston Medical Center.

Does this mean that unmet social needs are associated with breast cancer mortality that could have been prevented,  wonders researcher Michael D. Fish.

See “Breast Cancer Diagnoses Delayed by Housing, Food Insecurities” by Whitney J. Palmer on the Diagnostic Imaging website (November 19, 2020)