Abstract
<h3>Background</h3> Breast, cervical, and oral cancers account for 58% of all cancers in women in India. Because India does not have an organised cancer screening programme, specialists are trying to reach the masses through different approaches. <h3>Methods</h3> This pilot study was done in Mumbai in coordination with different non-governmental organisations (NGOs). After women had participated in a health education programme (HEP), they were screened for breast cancer (clinical examination), cervical cancer (visual tests namely visual inspection with acetic acid and visual inspection with Lugol's Iodine), and oral cancers (visual examination). Women screened positive were referred to Tata the Memorial Hospital (TMH) for further diagnosis and management. <h3>Findings</h3> Three hundred and seventy-two women participated in HEP. Twenty-three (12.43%) of 185, 32 (17.88%) of 179, and 18 (35.29%) of 51 women screened positive for breast, cervical, and oral cancers, respectively. The compliance among these women to undergo further diagnostic investigations at TMH was poor. One case of cervical pre-cancer and one of cervical cancer were diagnosed. <h3>Interpretation</h3> Affordable, effective, and acceptable outreach cancer screening services as part of an awareness programme are needed in India. The NGOs should take responsibility for motivating women who screen positive for cancer to comply with further confirmatory diagnostic investigations at the referral hospital. <h3>Funding</h3> Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, Women's Cancer Initiative and Tata Memorial Hospital. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
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