Population denominator
U.S. Census Bureau — 2024 American Community Survey (ACS)
State population estimates used to anchor the number of women ages 40–74.
Open Census table ↗A public-data prototype
We map breast cancer screening gaps
Mammography Gap Explorer analyzes multiple sources of public cancer screening data to explore patterns in mammography use and reported barriers. We made it to estimate how many women report no mammogram in the past two years in different U.S. states, understand who is being missed, and examine the reasons women report for non-completion.
State-specific: how many, who, where
U.S.-level: why
Explore the project
Four questions we're trying to answer
The first three sections follow the state selected above. The fourth uses national survey data and does not change by state.
Part 1
Illinois
How many women are unscreened?
Estimate the number of women ages 40–74 who report no mammogram in the past two years, then examine insurance, a regular source of care, and recent routine checkups.
Open the state screening numbers
Part 2
Illinois
Who are they?
Look at the estimated overdue population broken down by education, household income, race and ethnicity, and urban–rural residence.
Open the population profile
Part 2A · Map
Illinois
Where are they?
Explore county-level modeled mammography estimates and identify places where screening appears lower. Note that the map has a different age range (50–74) and is not a direct geographic breakdown of the state count.
Explore the county map
Part 3
U.S. national
What are the reported reasons for not being screened?
Examine the single most important reason each woman reported, including follow-through, perceived need, clinician recommendation, access and cost, and the test experience.
Open the national reasons analysis
About this project
A working model built to be challenged
Hi, my name is Masha Galenko. I'm a Master of Public Policy student at UChicago Harris with a specialization in Health Policy. The Mammography Gap Explorer is an unofficial exploratory project I made to gather dispersed sources of public data on one platform to better understand patterns in mammography use and reported barriers in the U.S. It's for expert review, not a finished surveillance tool. I'd appreciate feedback from hands-on professionals working on early breast cancer detection to build the next, better version. Find more on the methodology on the About page.
See a problem, missing caveat, or better way to frame the gap?
Share your feedback
mashagalenko@uchicago.edu
Data sources
Public data used in the explorer
Each analysis page provides its exact year, age range, denominator, measurement rule, and limitations.
State survey measures
CDC — 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
Self-reported mammography, insurance, regular healthcare provider, and routine-checkup measures.
Open BRFSS documentation ↗County geography
State Cancer Profiles
County-level modeled mammography estimates presented with direct attribution and links to the original government source.
Open State Cancer Profiles ↗National reasons
CDC — 2023 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
National self-reported reasons among women who had never had a mammogram or had not had one in more than two years.
Open NHIS documentation ↗
Important: source years, age ranges, and denominators differ across sections. County modeled estimates should not be treated as a direct geographic allocation of the state-level overdue count. All estimates are descriptive and should be read with the methods and limitations shown on each page.