Survey finds most women skip annual mammograms

Almost 60% of women over the age of 40 skip annual mammograms, and almost a quarter (23%) say they've never had one, according to a survey conducted by MedStar Health in Maryland, MD.

The survey results come at time when breast cancer diagnoses continue to increase, according to the American Cancer Society. And in May, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) lowered the recommended age for biennial screening from 50 to 40.

The survey found the following top reasons women don't get annual mammograms:

• Not knowing that age and smoking are risk factors (62% and 56%).
• Not getting around to it (34%)
• Having a normal mammogram in the past (21%)
• Not having a family history of breast cancer (17%)

"Everyone's breast cancer risk is different. Educating yourself about your own risk is key to catching it early," said Stephanie Johnson, director of the MedStar Health High-Risk Breast Cancer Program, in a statement released by the organization.