Question 1

What is a Breast Cancer healthcare access score?

Accepted Answer

A Breast Cancer healthcare access score measures how easy it is for residents of a US ZIP code to reach breast cancer specialists who treat breast cancer. CartoChrome computes the score from CMS NPPES provider data, CMS facility data, and Census demographics using the E2SFCA spatial-access method, then adjusts for social-determinant barriers. Every ZIP is scored 0–100.

Question 2

Which states have the best breast cancer care access?

Accepted Answer

Top state (—/100), — (—), and — (—) rank highest for breast cancer care on CartoChrome. The national average is 50/100. Rankings reflect specialist density, facility access, and travel time — not treatment outcomes.

Question 3

What is a breast cancer healthcare desert?

Accepted Answer

A breast cancer healthcare desert is a ZIP code scoring below 25/100 on CartoChrome's Breast Cancer access score, meaning residents face severe shortages of breast cancer specialists, long drive times, and compounding socioeconomic barriers. Some states, —, and — contain the highest share of breast cancer deserts nationally.

Question 4

How is the Breast Cancer score calculated?

Accepted Answer

The score combines provider density within a RUCA-tier catchment radius, facility proximity weighted by a Gaussian distance decay, and a Social Determinants of Health penalty (insurance, income, transportation, disability, age). Data comes from CMS NPPES, CMS Care Compare, HRSA HPSA designations, and the Census ACS 5-year estimates. Full methodology is published at /methodology/.

Question 5

How often is breast cancer access data updated?

Accepted Answer

CartoChrome refreshes provider data weekly (NPPES delta), facility ratings monthly (CMS Care Compare), and demographics annually (Census ACS). Breast Cancer scores recompute after every data load — typically within 24 hours of a CMS release.

Breast Cancer

Other Conditions

Breast Cancer

Access to mammography, oncologists, and breast cancer treatment centers

Top 10 ZIP Codes for Breast Cancer

Bottom 10 ZIP Codes for Breast Cancer (Healthcare Deserts)

Explore Breast Cancer Scores

Other Conditions

Access to mammography, oncologists, and breast cancer treatment centers

Top 10 ZIP Codes for Breast Cancer

Bottom 10 ZIP Codes for Breast Cancer (Healthcare Deserts)

Explore Breast Cancer Scores