Closing Breast Cancer Screening Gaps Through Community Outreach, Credible Messaging: Kathrin Dvir, MD, MSc

In the second and final part of her interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®, Kathrin Dvir, MD, MSc, of Moffitt Cancer Center, discussed the most significant disparities in access to breast cancer screening and outlined strategies to help close these gaps.

She explained that screening uptake is heavily influenced by awareness, education, and access to care, with substantial disparities persisting across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups; these create barriers to timely screening. Dvir also addressed the common misconception that only individuals with a family history are at risk for breast cancer, which may discourage some women from pursuing routine screening.

In reality, about 12% of women in the general population will develop breast cancer, and many patients considered high risk have no family history, underscoring the importance of screening across the broader population. Even when patients undergo a mammography, she highlighted that follow-up after abnormal findings is often missed, potentially delaying diagnosis and treatment.

To address these challenges, Dvir emphasized the importance of targeted education and community outreach, with trusted sources like physicians and academic centers playing a critical role in sharing accurate, evidence-based information. She noted that messaging should be culturally sensitive and available in multiple languages to ensure broad understanding and engagement, particularly in communities disproportionately affected by disparities.

Dvir concluded that strengthening communication from credible sources may help counter widespread online misinformation and improve adherence to screening guidelines.

“We have social media, but there’s just so much misinformation there,” Dvir concluded. “I feel that if the information is coming from medical oncology academic centers, it will be better perceived. Then, the adherence and compliance with screening will be better.”

Watch part 1 to learn about the shift toward more personalized, biomarker-driven breast cancer care and how treatment sequencing is evolving in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings.