By Geena Monahan—For the North Star Reporter
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, routine breast cancer screening across Massachusetts plummeted as thousands of women canceled their scheduled mammograms.
However, Asma Latif, director of breast oncology at Sturdy Memorial Health in Attleboro, said that five years after the pandemic, her team has seen those numbers not only meet, but exceed pre-COVID levels.
A study by the UMass Chan Medical School, in partnership with Reliant Medical Group, found that breast cancer screening rates in 2020 decreased 57% in March, 96% in April and 94% in May, compared to the year before. The study also found that during Massachusetts’ first stay-at-home order, more than 6,000 scheduled mammograms were canceled.
“We are seeing greater numbers of people coming in for breast cancer screenings than before the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Latif. “We saw sharp declines during the pandemic and in the period immediately afterwards, but increased awareness of the importance of screening has led to more patients receiving mammograms.”
Latif noted that some of the uptick may be linked to pent-up demand because so many women skipped their mammograms during the pandemic.
A press release from the American Cancer Society reported numbers that support Latif’s findings. ACS researchers analyzed data from the National Health Interview Study, which showed that breast cancer screenings in 2023 exceeded 2019 levels by 7%.
“Our goal is to detect cancer at its earlier and more curable stages,” said Latif. “We do this through mammograms, but also through an ultrasound or MRI of the breast, tests for women with dense breast tissue or who are at higher-than-average risk for breast cancer. We are also seeing greater demand for these advanced tests.”
Innovative care
A brand-new, $60 million Cancer and Specialty Care Center by Sturdy Memorial is one of many ways the hospital looks to provide collaborative, cutting-edge care for its patients and ensure access to early screening tools.
The 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art center broke ground in 2023, and opened its doors to new patients on Oct. 6.
“Every square foot of this facility was thoughtfully designed with our patients in mind — to bring advanced care closer to home, to support collaboration among our expert providers, and to meet the growing needs of our community,” said Aimee Brewer, president and CEO of Sturdy Health. “We are proud to open the doors to a space that reflects the future of health care at Sturdy.”
The center boasts 50 exam rooms and a large clinical staff, allowing for shorter wait times for appointments and specialty care. A climate-controlled connector bridge to the main campus helps to better link hospital-based and outpatient services, according to a statement from Sturdy Memorial.
Additionally, an on-site Dana-Farber Cancer Institute care center gives patients convenient access to “expertise, clinical trials, and supportive oncology resources.”
“This milestone represents so much more than a new building—it’s a step forward in our commitment to delivering exceptional, community-based health care,” said Brewer.
The cancer center offers numerous services directly aimed at early screening and detection of breast cancer, including mammography, digital breast tomosynthesis, breast ultrasound, breast MRI, pathology and breast biopsy. The center will begin accepting patients next summer.
“Screening is quick and easy, and covered by insurance, so we encourage all women age 40 and over to get screened, “ said Latin. “It can be the difference between life and death.”