Women With Cerebral Palsy and Breast Cancer Screening by Mammography

Poulos AE, Balandin S, Llewellyn G, Dew AH. Women with cerebral palsy and breast cancer screening by mammography.We emphasize the need to identify specific barriers to participation in breast cancer screening by mammography experienced by women with cerebral palsy (CP). Mammography screening has been found to reduce mortality rates by 30%, but women with disabilities such as CP underuse this important preventive medicine facility, potentially leading to delay in diagnosis of breast cancer and a less favorable prognosis. Because equity in health care is compromised through underutilization by these women, barriers to participation and successful outcomes must be investigated. Barriers such as appropriate information, transport, and assistance prevent women with CP from getting to the facility. Once there, communication difficulties, physical limitations, psychologic barriers, and staff attitudes become barriers to a successful outcome. Education for health personnel as well as adaptation of the mammographic technique to suit the physical limitations of women with CP are critical to increasing participation and ensuring successful outcomes. Importantly, there is a need to identify women for whom having a mammogram is not an option and for whom alternative breast screening methods should be provided.