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Original Summaries of Selected CANCERLIT Abstracts.
Screening For Breast Cancer
Last modified on:
Tuesday, April 20, 1999 10:52:30
Copyright © 1994-2008, Information Ventures, Inc.
Screening for breast cancer is best carried out with a combination
of mammographic examination, breast physical examination and
breast self-examination (BSE). BSE has frequently been described
as ineffective, but the approach may not always have been
sufficiently systematic because of inadequate training for self-
examination. The effect of a comprehensive BSE screening program
on compliance and on mortality from breast cancer in Finland was
reported in a citation in the November CANCERLIT update (Gastrin;
ICDB/95615305). The Finnish Mama Program Screening was developed
in 1972 as an interactive educational program involving a cohort of
56,177 women of all ages over 20, and carried out in 1972-73. The
reference population was the general female population not taking
part in the screening program. Monthly compliance with BSE
increased from 2% to 55%. Of the women exposed to the screening,
2% self-referred to the diagnostic mammographic examinations in
public health care facilities. Over a 14-year follow-up, 20% more
breast cancers were detected than expected, with significantly more
small tumors of 1-cm size in the study population. Mortality from
breast cancer was 29% less than expected among the compliers. The
result was favorable in all age groups.
November, 1995
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