Komen: Study Reveals Women With Insurance Not Getting Mammograms

MIAMI (CBS4) -- A new study has revealed only half of the women, aged 40 to 85, who were supposed to be getting a yearly mammogram, and actually did receive one. Surprisingly, the women didn't get the mammogram even when they had insurance to cover the cost.

Researchers presented the study at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium last December.

Survivor Catherine Duemler skipped her mammogram in 2010. She had her last screening in February of 2009 but because she's only a part-time resident, she was in and out of town and couldn't fit it in.

"I was here this summer and they were booked and I couldn't get an appointment," said Duemler.

Duemler went back up north without ever having the test but in February, she felt a lump.

"They did a mammogram in the morning at about 8:00 o'clock and at 2:00 I had about six phone calls," she explained.

"She went two years in between a mammogram and in that two years a mass developed," said radiologist Dr. Barry Simon.

It happened very fast. In her 2009 mammogram, nothing was there.

"She came back the end of February and now you have this lump right here," said Dr. Simon. "We went ahead while she was still here and did some additional views. We brought her in to ultrasound to see if it was cystic or solid. I went ahead and did a biopsy the same day."

Catherine was diagnosed with two forms of cancer and the next day she was scheduled for surgery.

"Only 50% of the women are actually getting routine mammography. Most people are not following the guidelines that they need to, even though their insurance company will pay for it," said Dr. Simon.

Catherine has some advice for other women.

"Go to the doctor's office because if I hadn't gone to the doctor's office I probably would have been in deep trouble," she said. For more information about breast cancer education, diagnosis and treatment, just go to this website, Susan G. Komen for the Cure Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Chapter.