The numbers are sobering. A woman living in the United States has a 1 in 7 lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. In 2006, an estimated 214,000 new cases of breast cancer will be identified. Breast cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death for women, and over 41,000 deaths will be attributed to breast cancer this year.

For more than 20 years, October has been designated National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This official recognition has helped to educate women about breast cancer, and most especially about the importance of detecting the disease in its earliest stages. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month was created to raise public awareness of the importance of early detection through annual mammography screening for women aged 50 to 69, or earlier for women at increased risk. Mammography can detect about 85 percent of all breast cancers and has contributed to a recent decline in breast cancer mortality.

At UPMC Health Plan, we take pride in the fact that in 2006 — for the third consecutive year — we have the highest percentage of female members who have had the recommended breast cancer screening, according to data collected by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

UPMC Health Plan achieved the highest score on breast cancer screening in the country, according to NCQA. NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality.

NCQA HEDIS Performance Ratings for Breast Cancer Screening

Source: Quality Compass 2006, NCQA