St. Louis study finds half of mammography capacity goes unused

Gateway to Hope and regional public health partners released a first-of-its-kind analysis showing St. Louis City and County uses just 56% of available mammography capacity, with screening rates far below recommended levels. The report points to extended hours, better coordination and stronger community outreach as ways to close breast cancer care gaps.

Why it matters: - The St. Louis region is not using much of the breast cancer screening capacity it already has, which means more women could be screened without waiting for new facilities. - The study ties underused capacity to inequities in outcomes, especially for Black women and for people facing barriers tied to race, income and geography. - Breast cancer has a 90+% cure rate when detected early, so missed or delayed screening can affect survival.

What happened: - Gateway to Hope released a new analysis on July 30, 2026, with the City of St. Louis Department of Health, the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health, the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health and the Missouri Foundation for Health. - The report is titled “Breast Cancer Screening Capacity in St. Louis City and County.” - The study examined breast cancer screening capacity across St. Louis City and County. - The analysis used cancer registry data, provider surveys and claims data. - More than 90% of local mammography providers participated. - In 2024, about half of eligible women in St. Louis City and County had a mammogram.

The details: - Average mammography capacity utilization in the region is 56%. - Some facilities are operating at just 8% to 12% of capacity. - Safety-net providers are the most underused. - The study looked at disparities in outcomes and utilization between Black women and White women. - The report also evaluated the region’s care capacity, including tools, talent and access. - The research identified five priority areas: aligning existing resources with patient needs; expanding access through extended hours, improved scheduling and transportation solutions; strengthening care coordination to reduce fragmentation and delays; investing in community engagement to increase screening uptake and trust; and building ongoing data-sharing systems to track progress and drive accountability. - The study was led by Gateway to Hope’s Research and Impact team. - The City of St. Louis Department of Health, the Saint Louis County Department of Public Health and the University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health co-authored the report. - The Missouri Foundation for Health funded the report. - More information and the full analysis are available here.

Between the lines: - The findings suggest the biggest barrier may not be equipment alone, but how the region deploys existing resources. - The emphasis on scheduling, transportation and care coordination points to access problems that can be addressed without waiting for major new capital investment. - The collaboration across public health agencies, nonprofit groups and academic researchers signals a regional effort to move from diagnosis of disparities to shared accountability.

What's next: - Regional partners are being urged to use the report’s five priority areas to expand access and improve screening uptake. - The study points to ongoing data-sharing and coordination as the main tools for tracking progress over time. - Leaders say stronger partnerships could help the region close gaps in early detection and improve outcomes for women who face the greatest barriers to care.