Katie Couric’s Lesson: Don’t Miss Your Annual Mammogram

Premier Health Now Oct 4, 2022

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Famed journalist Katie Couric recently revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer in June and has since received chemotherapy and surgical treatment.

As newsworthy as this announcement might be, the key to the story is that Couric delayed getting routine mammography screenings for the past two years during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was diagnosed after resuming routine screening this past summer.

Premier Health Now spoke with breast cancer surgeon Selyne Samuel, MD, FACS, to discuss the impact of Couric’s announcement and the importance of routine health screenings like mammograms.

Using Her Platform For Good

Dr. Samuel believes that Couric is providing a much-needed reminder not to put off screenings.

“I really believe her announcement brings such great awareness about the crucial importance of routine, early screening,” she says. “If caught early, breast cancer is much more treatable.”

Katie Couric was not alone in delaying health screenings because of the pandemic. The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published a survey revealing that breast cancer screenings fell by six percent in the first year of COVID-19.

According to Dr. Samuel, early detection of breast cancer often helps patients avoid more aggressive therapies and invasive surgical procedures. And this can lead to greater survivorship and quality of life.

When To Begin Scheduling Mammograms?

“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force changed guidelines a few years ago, saying women could wait until age 50 to start screening and to get screened every two years thereafter,” Dr. Samuel says.

“However, the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the American Cancer Society both encourage women to begin screening at 40 and then do so annually. At the end of the day, women need to have a discussion with their physician to pursue a plan that is right for them.”