Evaluation of Breast Cancer Screening Program in Al-Warith Hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer is a significant threat to Iraqi women's health. Early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the chance of recovery and life expectancy. Screening is the primary tool for early diagnosis and timely treatment of breast cancer in the early stages. Objectives: To evaluate the screening program in detecting breast cancer in the Al-Warith screening center, Karbalaa, Iraq, from 1/8/2023 to 1/5/2024. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 510 Iraqi women who came to the outpatient breast clinic. Their demographic information related to the current research was selected randomly; it was taken from the medical records in the statistics unit in the hospital. The collected data were coded and entered into SPSS 16.0 (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 22.0 by IBM) (SPSS for Windows, Rel. 22.0., 2016, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). The categorical data were analyzed by frequency and percentage. Results: 167 were screened, representing 32.75% of the total mean age (54.3±13.20) years old. Clinical screening identified normal findings in 87.50% of participants, while 4.17% had benign findings, and 8.33% were clinically screened and advised to review breast clinical recurrently. Ultrasound screening showed normal findings in 32.00% of patients and benign results in 60.00%, with 8.00% having BIRAD [4, 5] results. Mammography screening revealed normal findings in 40.43% of patients and benign results in 53.19%, with 6.38% having BIRAD [4, 5] results. Biopsies were performed on eight patients, resulting in 75.00% undergoing FNA and 25.00% undergoing True Cut Biopsy. Ultimately, breast cancer was detected in 1.20% of the asymptomatic patients screened. Conclusion: The data highlights the crucial role of regular screening for both asymptomatic and symptomatic women in the early detection of breast conditions. Raising public awareness is a vital strategy for healthcare providers. These efforts can greatly enhance the early detection and treatment of breast cancer and other related conditions. By following these recommendations, we can achieve better patient outcomes and improve overall public health.