Despite national efforts to boost cancer screening, many communities—especially those with higher proportions of non-white residents—continue to fall behind. A new study led by Pranoti Pradhan, PhD, at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, reveals that breast cancer screening remains uneven across the U.S., with persistent geographic clusters of low participation tied to socioeconomic disadvantage.
Using data from over 3,100 counties between 1997 and 2019, researchers found that screening rates for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers were consistently higher in the Northeast and lower in the Southwest. Counties in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona showed some of the lowest mammography rates.
In contrast, states like Maine and Massachusetts maintained high screening levels throughout the study period.
Importantly, counties that transitioned from low to high screening rates tended to have lower median home values and a higher proportion of non-white residents. These areas faced greater socioeconomic challenges than counties with consistently high screening rates. “Rural residents may have lower educational attainment, lower incomes, and lower insurance coverage, which may further exacerbate access to cancer screening,” the authors noted.
While spatial disparities in screening have narrowed over time, the study highlights how structural barriers—like transportation and limited healthcare facilities—continue to impact minority and low-income populations. The authors urge future research to include county-level healthcare access data to better understand why some areas still lag behind.
See: “Low breast cancer screening prevalence tied to socioeconomic factors” (October 17, 2025)
