According to a 2010 government survey, only 61% of women with a disability aged 50 to 74 had had a mammogram in the past two years — compared to 75% of women without a disability.
One 1999 study looked specifically at causes of death among people with cerebral palsy from 1986 to 1995. Researchers found that people with CP were three times more likely to die of breast cancer than the general population.
What's going on? According to Reis, there's a "perfect storm" of factors that prevent women from getting the breast cancer screening they need.
Accessibility is just the beginning. But it still poses a significant challenge — one that can begin as soon as a women leaves her house to head to the doctor's office. To get around, some women need to rely on public transportation for people with disabilities, which sometimes doesn't even show up, Reis said. Once they arrive, they may find there aren't automatic doors, ramps or elevators.
"There are amazing numbers of offices that women are supposed to attend that aren't accessible," Dr. David Roye, medical director for the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, told Mic. Both Roye and Reis are involved with the CPF's newly launched initiative to identify health care obstacles for women with disabilities and develop strategies to overcome them. "Maybe the entryway up to the exam rooms is too narrow, or the exam room is too small, or you get into the exam room and it's a fixed-height table."
Another factor of the so-called "perfect storm"? The perception that women with disabilities couldn't possibly get breast cancer, too. It's a dangerous idea shared by doctors and patients alike.
"A lot of providers ... don't really stop and think about the fact that women with disabilities are at risk for breast cancer," Reis told Mic. Providers need to encourage their patients to get breast cancer screenings, no matter how many other medical issues the patient is already dealing with.
Patients, themselves, may also overlook the possibility they could get breast cancer on top of their disability. It's tough to prioritize preventative breast cancer screenings when you're dealing with another ongoing health issue.