Data Set Unique in the Nation: A Call for Action
The St. Louis Breast Cancer Consortium and Gateway to Hope hosted a convening attended by all St. Louis regional public health and healthcare partners, advocates and breast cancer survivors to review the unique combination of aggregated data and surveyed results of providers of breast cancer screening, diagnostics and treatment services in the region.
The data set is unique in the nation! No other region has compiled this level of detailed data analyzing not only mortality and incidence, but details about the availability of mammography and other diagnostic services, access hours and workforce availability by zip code in the region. You can find the full report at: https://gthmo.org/breast-cancer-screening-capacity-st-louis-city-county/.
Ashley Holmes with Gateway to Hope stated “Where you start breast cancer care largely determines the outcome of your breast cancer”. This is unacceptable in Missouri and in our nation.
Key findings include:
Black women in St. Louis region are approximately 1.1-1.5 times more likely to die of breast cancer than white women in the region.
Disparities in mortality are not reflected in incidence-breast cancer occurs at similar rates among black and white women.
Most women initiate treatment within 60 days, black and white women in North County experience disproportionately higher rates of delay.
Women in West County- who are more likely to be white and affluent- are more often diagnosed at early stages, while black and low-income women in North County are more frequently diagnosed at later stages.
The average and median capacity utilized is 49% of available capacity. Capacity is based upon the number of machines in service and the hours or operation.
Even with incomplete data, at best only half of women received their recommended screening in 2024.
The evening was hosted by Maxine Clark of the Clark-Fox Foundation and skillfully facilitated by Emerging Wisdom. It’s important to note that public health attendees included representatives from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, St. Louis County Department of Public Health, St. Louis City Department of Health and St. Charles County Health Department. Healthcare providers present included all the primary breast cancer providers in the region inclusive of BJC, Mercy and SSM, as well as Washington University Physicians. This depicts the high level of commitment all providers in the region have to address this pressing women’s health issue.
This group of healthcare professionals, advocates and breast cancer survivors identified additional data which is needed, as well as potential next steps to address this issue. One of those next steps needs to be replication of this data analysis state-wide to more fully understand the conundrum of access and capacity in relation to mortality, incidence, race, geographic positioning and income levels. Thanks to the St. Louis Breast Cancer Consortium for leading the way!