Obese women and cancer testing

Obese women are less likely to have mammograms and pap smears (screening tests for breast cancer and cervical cancer) than women who are not. In view of the epidemic of obesity that is sweeping across the US, this is a problem. This problem was found more amongst white women than black women who were more likely to get screened even though they were overweight/obese.
Obese women may feel more self-conscious when going to their healthcare provider. They may also have other problems like high cholesterol which may seem to make cancer less of an immediate problem.
Presently, about 75% of women have a mammogram every year or two after the age of 40to detect early breast cancer, and about 85 % get Pap smears to test for cervical cancer .

Read Related Storiess

1. Obese women less likely to have cancer screening
2. Eating meat not linked to breast cancer in older women
3. Being overweight or obese increases uterine cancer risk
4. Breast cancer – Fewer women having mammograms
5. Black women more likely to die from breast cancer
6. Smoking more dangerous for women

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• Stop menopause weight gain
• Heart Health for Women
• Managing Breast Cancer
• Diabetes