Breast Cancer Screenings and Early Detection

Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer in Arizona.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an opportunity to raise awareness and encourage proactive measures. In Arizona, women are diagnosed at an average age of 65, while it’s recommended that most women start mammogram screenings at age 40. 

Early detection can lower your risk and save your life. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%.

Let's break down what examinations you should get - and when.

Examinations by age

20s

Women should start self-examining their breasts in their 20s. Why? When you familiarize yourself with your body, you’ll be more likely to flag any changes to your doctor. There are three different ways to do it:

1. Circular: Start at the outer edge of your breast and move fingers around the entire breast in a circular motion
2. Vertical: Start at your underarm area and move your fingers around the entire breast in a circular motion.
3. Wedge: Start at the outer edge of your breast and move your fingers towards the nipple and back to the edge until you have checked the entire breast in small wedge-shaped sections.

While self-breast exams should start in your 20’s, continue them throughout your life.

20s-30s

In addition to self-examinations, women in this age range should have their breasts clinically examined. The clinical breast exam (CBE) should be a part of your annual health examination. This is not the same as a mammogram. During a CBE, your provider will examine your breasts to check for anything that feels abnormal like a lump. For women over 40, this is usually a complement to other types of screenings such as mammograms.

40+

After the age of 40, a woman should start having a mammogram done annually. A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast that can detect lumps in your breast that you may not be able to see or feel. According to the World Health Organization, mammography is the most effective screening method for breast cancer. Again, if you are a woman 40 years or older, you should have a mammogram performed every year.

And don’t forget the self-examinations!

Source: Breast Exams | American Breast Cancer Foundation (abcf.org).

You deserve answers

Mammograms used for preventive care are generally covered by most health insurance plans with no out-of-pocket costs. Diagnostic mammograms (that are used as a screening tool for women with signs or symptoms of breast cancer and produce more images) may have some out-of-pocket costs like a copay.

AZ Blue members can log in to azblue.com/MyBlue and view their plan documents to see what screening services their plan benefits cover.

Get screened, get rewarded!

• BCBSAZ Health Choice and Health Choice Pathway (HMO-SNP) members, ages 40 to 74, can receive a $50 gift card for completing a mammogram. Health Choice also offers screening events to make getting a mammogram easy. Click here for a list of locations. Health Choice members can call 602-962-5892 to schedule an appointment.
• Medicare Advantage members can earn $30 in reward dollars if they complete a breast cancer screening exam by the end of the year. Click here to learn more. AZ Blue Medicare Advantage members can call the Member Outreach team at 602-313-7135, toll-free 1-888-267-9046 TTY: 711. After completing the screening, members can complete a self-attestation at azbluebenefits.com to earn their $30 reward dollars.

With or without insurance, Arizonans 40-65 as well as symptomatic individuals 21 and older can get free clinical breast exams and mammograms at these locations statewide: Get Screened at Well Woman Healthcheck Program clinics (azdhs.gov).

Experiencing a health scare?

AZ Blue is here to help members recently diagnosed with breast cancer if they are having difficulty getting care. Connect with our Clinical Rapid Response Team: Clinical Rapid Response | AZ Blue.