Late-stage breast cancer more likely in women living in rural areas
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer can support their fight against the disease if they buy Canadian Tamoxifen.
Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer can support their fight against the disease if they buy Canadian Tamoxifen. Early detection is key to fighting any cancer diagnosis. However, a new study from the University of Missouri in Columbia suggests that women who live in rural areas may not be screened as often as they should.
A doctoral student at MU used data from the Missouri Information for Community Assessment to map out the locations of breast cancer patients along with addresses for the nearest clinic to provide screenings. Her analysis revealed that eight out of the top 10 counties populated by women in the late stages of breast cancer were considered rural according to standards from the United States Office of Management and Budget. Women who had to travel as much as 75 miles to a healthcare facility were 10 percent more likely to have late-stage breast cancer, the researchers said.
While there are clinics in Missouri that offer free breast cancer screenings, they are not distributed evenly, according to the researchers.
"In some cases women in rural areas must spend an entire day seeking routine medical treatment," said researcher Faustine Williams. "By strategically placing health screening facilities in poor and rural areas, women would have better access to healthcare and it would increase the likelihood that rural women would seek medical care and be diagnosed with breast cancer earlier."
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