MMWR

Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

Self-Reported Use of Mammograms – United States, 2003-2005

PRESS CONTACT: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(770) 488-5131

Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early. However, the number of women 40 or older getting screened with mammography within the recommended guidelines appears to be decreasing. If you are a woman aged 40 or older, you should get a mammogram every one to two years. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death (after lung/bronchus) among women in the United States. In 2002, at least 182,125 women in the United States were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 41,514 died from the disease. Screening mammography has been shown to reduce mortality from breast cancer in women 40 years of age or older; thus the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women aged 40 years or older be screened for breast cancer with mammography every 1-2 years. Although mammography utilization increased substantially in the 1990s, a new report from the CDC describes a decline in mammography use from 76.4 percent in 2000 to 74.6 percent in 2005. This finding calls for the continuation and expansion of activities that address breast cancer awareness and promote screening.

Participation in School Physical Education – Ontario, Canada 1999-2005

PRESS CONTACT: Guy Faulkner - Ontario, Canada
(416) 523-7216

Results of this report indicate that the potential of PE to contribute to levels of adolescent physical activity might not be optimal. More focused attention is needed to address the participation of females and older youth. As in the United States, coordinated programs involving schools, communities, and policy makers are needed to provide daily PE for all youth in Ontario. School-based programs, including physical education (PE) programs, allow regular and structured opportunities for students to spend time in moderate or vigorous physical activities that meet public health recommendations for children and adolescents. To examine prevalence and trends in PE participation among high school students in Ontario, Canada, during 1999–2005, we analyzed data from the Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS) to assess enrollment, daily attendance, and percentage of students participating in vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes during the average PE class. Overall, there was a significant linear decrease in the percentage of students who were enrolled in PE during 1999–2005 — decreasing from 70.3 percent to 60.3 percent. However, the prevalence of being physically active during PE class did not change significantly. Female and older students were most at risk for lower enrollment in PE and participation in physical activity during classes.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES