Poorer women not receiving enough breast cancer testing or treatment

Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer are given a prescription to buy Tamoxifen after their surgery, which allows them to beat the disease. However, new findings suggest more may need to be done to make these types of treatments available to women in low-income areas.

Researchers from the American Cancer Society found that while the overall survival rate of breast cancer has risen dramatically over the past several years, poorer women may not have benefited as much.

A major reason for this is the fact that they are less likely to receive a mammogram, which can catch tumors in their early stages when they are more treatable. In 2008, only about 51 percent of low-income women were screened for breast cancer, while nearly 73 percent of more affluent individuals were tested.

The researchers said that more needs to be done to ensure that all women, regardless of their socioeconomic status, have access to the most effective breast cancer tests and treatments. Otherwise, advancements in caring for individuals with the condition may have little impact.