Most women are worried about breast cancer, but many aren’t getting screened, according to a new national survey from MedStar Health released as Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins.
The survey found that three in four women are concerned about developing breast cancer in their lifetime. Yet 52% of women over 40 said they had not had a mammogram in the past year. More than eight in 10 said they take care of other responsibilities before their own health, and only 18% said they put their own health needs first.
“Women are concerned about breast cancer, and that concern is a powerful starting point,” said Dr. Candace Mainor, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. “When women have clear, trusted information, they feel more confident scheduling their mammograms. Early detection saves lives, and we’re committed to helping every woman take that step.”
Myths that persist
The survey also found misconceptions about how breast cancer shows up and who gets it:
- 33% of women believe breast cancer always presents as a lump. Many cases don’t.
- 25% believe a family history is required to develop the disease. In fact, about 85% of breast cancers occur in women with no family history.
- 30% believe mammograms expose patients to dangerous levels of radiation.
“These myths can unfortunately give women a false sense of security,” said Dr. Meghan Letts Milburn, chief of breast surgery at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. “Breast cancer doesn’t always show up as a lump, and you don’t need a family history to be at risk. Regular mammograms remain the best tool we have for early detection and do not pose a radiation risk.”
There was one encouraging finding: 94% of women correctly said breast cancer is survivable when caught early.
“Women are trying to balance work, caregiving, and daily responsibilities, and their own health often falls last,” Mainor said. “But understanding your personal risk and getting screened on time can save your life.”
How often to get screened
Guidelines vary. In 2024, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force updated its recommendation to call for mammograms every other year for women ages 40 to 74, lowering the starting age from 50. Some medical groups and health systems, including MedStar, recommend yearly screening. Women at higher risk may need to start earlier or add other imaging. Women should talk with their doctor about the schedule that fits their risk.
The stakes are high. About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Breastcancer.org projects that 321,910 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2026 and 42,140 will die from it. About two-thirds of cases are caught at a localized stage, before the cancer has spread, when treatment is most effective.
“Early detection changes everything,” Milburn said. “When breast cancer is found early, treatment is more effective, less invasive, and outcomes are significantly better.”
The new findings echo MedStar’s survey last year, which found that nearly half of eligible women over 40 weren’t getting annual screenings. That survey also found Maryland’s breast cancer rate, about 135.5 new cases per 100,000 women, above the national average.
MedStar offers a free online breast cancer health risk assessment to help women understand their own risk. The full survey results are available to download.
