Abstract
Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Breast screening in normal and/or asymptomatic women is essential to reduce the burden of breast malignancies. Our study aimed to identify possible risk- and/or co-factors associated with breast screening in North Indian women. A public health research survey was conducted among 100 women of North Indian ethnicity during clinic visits in a 6-month timeline (April-October 2012). Demographic and clinical data, including mammography screening, were recorded in the questionnaire-based proforma after conducting a 10 minute interview. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants. The mean age of the participants was 32.2±9.9 years. Out of 100 women, 6% had family history of breast disease. Breast-related complaints/malignancy, including galactorrhoea, mastitis, axillary lump, fibrocystic disease, fibroadenosis and adenocarcinoma were observed in 41% participants; age stratification revealed that 82.9% of this group (n=41) were <30 years, while 9.7% and 7.3% were >30 years and 30 years of age, respectively. 32% participants underwent mammography screening and 8% had breast ultrasound imaging. Age stratification in the mammography screening group demonstrated that 24 women were <40 years, while 7 women were >40 years. Our pilot study identified possible co-factors affecting breast screening in North Indian women. These findings may be beneficial in early detection of breast abnormalities, including malignancies in women susceptible to breast cancer, and thus aid in future design of cost-effective screening strategies to reduce the increasing burden of breast carcinoma in women worldwide.
Highlights
Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide; it is the second most common cancer in women after cervical cancer (Ferley et al, 2000)
Breast-related complaints/malignancy, including galactorrhoea, mastitis, axillary lump, fibrocystic disease, fibroadenosis and adenocarcinoma were observed in 41% participants; age stratification revealed that 82.9% of this group (n=41) were 30 years and 30 years of age, respectively. 32% participants underwent mammography screening and 8% had breast ultrasound imaging
Not undergoing chemo/radiotherapy were Demographic profile(s) and response of breast screening included in the study; exlusion criteria for enrollment participants to public health questionnaire included post-operative study subjects, pregnant women, The present single-centre study included a total of presence of hereditary genetic disorders, ethnicity other 100 women of North Indian ethnicity from Lucknow and than North Indian
Summary
Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide; it is the second most common cancer in women after cervical cancer (Ferley et al, 2000). Public health survey-based research studies are essential to increase breast cancer awareness by organizing effective breast screening programs for identification of possible cofactors/risk factors that may aid in early detection of breast malignancies in susceptible ethnic groups at the population level, and providing cost-effective multimodality treatment options. A majority of Indian breast cancer patients self-detect any clinically relevant breast abnormality such as a palpable lump, or at a stage when there are secondary manifestations such as local skin or chest wall changes and/or distant metastases (Agarwal et al, 2007). Diagnostic mammography is usually advised to women who report symptoms on self examination or suspicious clinical findings on CBE to clarify as well as classify the nature of the target lesion; screening mammography is performed in target groups of asymptomatic women for identification of clinically significant malignant lesions and to facilitate early breast cancer detection. Diagnostic breast ultrasound refers to the use of ultrasound for assessment of targeted, localized findings on physical examination, Krishna Medical Centre, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India *For correspondence: e-mail saumyapandey6@ yahoo.com
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