National Breast Cancer Screening Program Research Articles

A structured process for the validation of a decision-analytic model: application to a cost-effectiveness model for risk-stratified national breast screening.

Decision-makers require knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of decision-analytic models used to evaluate healthcare interventions to be able to confidently use the results of such models to inform policy. A number of aspects of model validity have previously been described, but no systematic approach to assessing the validity of a model has been proposed. This study aimed to consolidate the different aspects of model validity into a step-by-step approach to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a decision-analytic model. A pre-defined set of steps were used to conduct the validation process of an exemplar early decision-analytic-model-based cost-effectiveness analysis of a risk-stratified national breast cancer screening programme [UK healthcare perspective; lifetime horizon; costs (£; 2021)]. Internal validation was assessed in terms of descriptive validity, technical validity and face validity. External validation was assessed in terms of operational validation, convergent validity (or corroboration) and predictive validity. The results outline the findings of each step of internal and external validation of the early decision-analytic-model and present the validated model (called 'MANC-RISK-SCREEN'). The positive aspects in terms of meeting internal validation requirements are shown together with the remaining limitations of MANC-RISK-SCREEN. Following a transparent and structured validation process, MANC-RISK-SCREEN has been shown to have satisfactory internal and external validity for use in informing resource allocation decision-making. We suggest that MANC-RISK-SCREEN can be used to assess the cost-effectiveness of exemplars of risk-stratified national breast cancer screening programmes (NBSP) from the UK perspective. A step-by-step process for conducting the validation of a decision-analytic model was developed for future use by health economists. Using this approach may help researchers to fully demonstrate the strengths and limitations of their model to decision-makers.

Screening for hepatitis C virus at the time of mammography using rapid diagnostic tests in women aged between 50 and 74 years (Mamm'OC NCT05067374).

Chronic hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection presents a global health challenge, with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite remarkable progress in treatment options, achieving elimination targets by 2030, as set by the World Health Organization, remains elusive. Our study aimed to address this gap by integrating HCV screening into a national breast cancer screening program. Between March 2022 and March 2023, a prospective cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted in four radiology centers in Montpellier, France. We proposed HCV screening to consecutive women undergoing mammography, targeting 1,500 participants aged 50-74 years. A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for HCV antibodies (HCV Ab) was performed on capillary whole blood, with positive cases undergoing serological and RNA confirmation. Participants also completed a questionnaire on demographic data and risk factors. Acceptance rates, HCV prevalence, and linkage to care were assessed. The acceptance rate for this integrated screening approach was 82.4%. Notably, the seroprevalence of HCV was found to be 0.65%. Linkage to care was prompt, and the cascade of care demonstrated successful treatment outcomes. Importantly, the majority of detected infections were successfully resolved. These findings underscore the feasibility and acceptability of integrating HCV screening with breast cancer screening programs providing updated prevalence data and valuable insights for refining future screening strategies.

Abstract PO1-10-09: The Performance Of Mobile Units Versus Hospital Units In National Breast Cancer Screening Program In Taiwan, 2010-2020

Abstract Purpose After the implementation of mobile units, the screened population increased from 3.9% to 40% of all women from 2004 to 2019 in Taiwan’s Breast Cancer Screening Program. There are limited studies comparing mobile units to hospital units. This study evaluated and compared the performance of the biennial mammography breast cancer screening in mobile units to hospital units in Taiwan over the past decade. Methods A cohort of 3 062 190 women aged 40 to 69 years who underwent biennial breast cancer mammography screenings from 2010 to 2020 was conducted, and data were obtained from the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. Comparing participation of screened women mobile units and hospital units across national screening. Performance measures were determined as percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the Wald asymptotic method. Results Among 3 062 190 women who underwent 7 444 450 examinations in the study population, the screened population by mobile units accounted for approximately 45.45 % of total examinations. The volume of screening mammograms performed in the mobile unit increased the number of people reached by this program. Since 2015, screenings performed in the mobile units have outnumbered those performed at brick-and-mortar hospitals: they comprised 480 456 of the 859 221 examinations (55.9%) performed in 2019. During the 10-year periods, the screen-detected cancers were 12 000 and 18 370 for mobile units and hospital units, respectively. Young women preferred screening in hospitals, resulting in a greater proportion of screen-detected cancers among those attending hospitals (49.4%) compared to the mobile unit (34.3%). The mean recall rate was higher in the hospitals at 8.95% (95% CI, 8.93%-8.99%) than in the mobile units at 7.27% (95% CI, 7.25%-7.32%). Conclusion Implementing mobile units increased the coverage of the screening program across the population. Hospital units had a younger patient population and higher recall rate than those mobile units. We can enhance mammography screening rates and follow-up among these groups by identifying these features, which can use to develop programs and materials fitting populations' specific requirements. Summary statement In Taiwan, the development of breast cancer screening has shown beneficial outcomes, especially with the deployment of mobile unit services to increase screened women. Our results could serve as an informative reference for other nations. Keywords: Breast cancer; screening; mobile units; hospital units. Table 1. Clinical Demographics for Mammographic Screening Examinations Table 2. Performance Measures of Digital Mammographic Screenings for Breast Cancer Citation Format: Vy Vu, Amy Ming-Fang Yen, Melissa Min-Szu Yao, Wing P. Chan. The Performance Of Mobile Units Versus Hospital Units In National Breast Cancer Screening Program In Taiwan, 2010-2020 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-10-09.

The Prognostic Quality of Risk Prediction Models to Assess the Individual Breast Cancer Risk in Women: An Overview of Reviews

Purpose. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally, with an incidence of approximately two million cases in 2018. Organised age-based breast cancer screening programs were established worldwide to detect breast cancer earlier and to reduce mortality. Currently, there is substantial anticipation regarding risk-adjusted screening programs, considering various risk factors in addition to age. The present study investigated the discriminatory accuracy of breast cancer risk prediction models and whether they suit risk-based screening programs. Methods. Following the PICO scheme, we conducted an overview of reviews and systematically searched four databases. All methodological steps, including the literature selection, data extraction and synthesis, and the quality appraisal were conducted following the 4-eyes principle. For the quality assessment, the AMSTAR 2 tool was used. Results. We included eight systematic reviews out of 833 hits based on the prespecified inclusion criteria. The eight systematic reviews comprised ninety-nine primary studies that were also considered for the data analysis. Three systematic reviews were assessed as having a high risk of bias, while the others were rated with a moderate or low risk of bias. Most identified breast cancer risk prediction models showed a low prognostic quality. Adding breast density and genetic information as risk factors only moderately improved the models’ discriminatory accuracy. Conclusion. All breast cancer risk prediction models published to date show a limited ability to predict the individual breast cancer risk in women. Hence, it is too early to implement them in national breast cancer screening programs. Relevant randomised controlled trials about the benefit-harm ratio of risk-adjusted breast cancer screening programs compared to conventional age-based programs need to be awaited.

Performance measures of 8,169,869 examinations in the National Breast Cancer Screening Program in Taiwan, 2004–2020

BackgroundThe benefits of mammographic screening have been shown to include a decrease in mortality due to breast cancer. Taiwan’s Breast Cancer Screening Program is a national screening program that has offered biennial mammographic breast cancer screening for women aged 50–69 years since 2004 and for those aged 45–69 years since 2009, with the implementation of mobile units in 2010. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance results of the program with changes in the previous (2004–2009) and latter (2010–2020) periods.MethodsA cohort of 3,665,078 women who underwent biennial breast cancer mammography screenings from 2004 to 2020 was conducted, and data were obtained from the Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan. We compared the participation of screened women and survival rates from breast cancer in the earlier and latter periods across national breast cancer screening programs.ResultsAmong 3,665,078 women who underwent 8,169,869 examinations in the study population, the screened population increased from 3.9% in 2004 to 40% in 2019. The mean cancer detection rate was 4.76 and 4.08 cancers per 1000 screening mammograms in the earlier (2004–2009) and latter (2010–2020) periods, respectively. The 10-year survival rate increased from 89.68% in the early period to 97.33% in the latter period. The mean recall rate was 9.90% (95% CI: 9.83–9.97%) in the early period and decreased to 8.15% (95%CI, 8.13–8.17%) in the latter period.ConclusionsThe evolution of breast cancer screening in Taiwan has yielded favorable outcomes by increasing the screening population, increasing the 10-year survival rate, and reducing the recall rate through the participation of young women, the implementation of a mobile unit service and quality assurance program, thereby providing historical evidence to policy makers to plan future needs.

Prolonged screening interval due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its association with tumor characteristics and treatment; a register-based study from BreastScreen Norway

ObjectiveDuring the COVID-19 pandemic Norway had to suspend its national breast cancer screening program. We aimed to investigate the effect of the pandemic-induced suspension on the screening interval, and its subsequent association with the tumor characteristics and treatment of screen-detected (SDC) and interval breast cancer (IC). MethodsInformation about women aged 50–69, participating in BreastScreen Norway, and diagnosed with a SDC (N = 3799) or IC (N = 1806) between 2018 and 2021 was extracted from the Cancer Registry of Norway. Logistic regression was used to investigate the association between COVID-19 induced prolonged screening intervals and tumor characteristics and treatment. ResultsWomen with a SDC and their last screening exam before the pandemic had a median screening interval of 24.0 months (interquartile range: 23.8–24.5), compared to 27.0 months (interquartile range: 25.8–28.5) for those with their last screening during the pandemic. The tumor characteristics and treatment of women with a SDC, last screening during the pandemic, and a screening interval of 29–31 months, did not differ from those of women with a SDC, last screening before the pandemic, and a screening interval of 23–25 months. ICs detected 24–31 months after screening, were more likely to be histological grade 3 compared to ICs detected 0–23 months after screening (odds ratio: 1.40, 95% confidence interval: 1.06–1.84). ConclusionsPandemic-induced prolonged screening intervals were not associated with the tumor characteristics and treatment of SDCs, but did increase the risk of a histopathological grade 3 IC. This study provides insights into the possible effects of extending the screening interval.

Beyond a decade: a comparative study of 15-year survival rates in screen-detected vs. symptomatic breast cancer patients in Hungary

BackgroundBreast cancer is the leading cancer in women globally. Despite decreasing mortality rates, largely due to early detection and modern treatment, the effectiveness of screening on long-term survival outcomes remains unclear.AimsThis study evaluates the 15-year survival outcomes of a national breast cancer screening program initiated in Hungary in 2002.MethodsUsing a prospectively maintained patient database, the study included individuals from the first 6 years of the program who underwent surgery for histologically confirmed breast cancer and had available follow-up information. Patients were categorized based on the method of breast cancer detection into two groups: those diagnosed during or 2 years after the population-based screening exam (Group A), and those who self-detected or sought medical attention for symptoms (Group B).ResultsOf the 309 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery, 208 were screen-detected (Group A) and 101 were symptomatic (Group B). The 15-year overall survival was 75.0% for Group A and 76.2% for Group B (p = 0.927). The 15-year disease-specific survival was 85.6% and 81.2% (p = 0.249), respectively. A statistically not significant positive trend in disease-free survival was observed in Group A (81.7% vs. 75.2%; p = 0.144).ConclusionsThe study underscores the importance of extended follow-up periods in evaluating the outcomes of breast cancer screening programs. While the screening program may not significantly enhance overall survival rates, it has demonstrated a reduction in the mastectomy rate and could potentially extend periods of disease-free survival. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse about the long-term benefits of breast cancer screening programs.

The effect of attendance in the Dutch breast cancer screening program on breast tumor characteristics among migrant women.

In general, migrant women have a lower breast cancer (BC) incidence rate and higher BC mortality than autochthonous women. Further, migrant women show lower participation in the national BC screening program. To further investigate those aspects, we aimed to determine differences in incidence and tumor characteristics between autochthonous and migrant BC patients in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. We selected women diagnosed with BC in Rotterdam during 2012-2015 from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Incidence rates were calculated by migrant status (i.e., women with or without migration background). Multivariable analyses revealed adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) on the association between migration status and patient and tumor characteristics, additionally stratified by screening attendance (yes/no). In total 1372 autochthonous and 450 migrant BC patients were included for analysis. BC incidence was lower among migrants than among autochthonous women. Overall, migrant women were younger at BC diagnosis (53 vs. 64 years, p<0.001), and had higher risks of positive lymph nodes (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.33-2.33) and high grade tumors (OR 1.35, 95% CI 1.04-1.75). Especially non-screened migrant women had higher risk of positive nodes (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.43-5.21). Among the subgroup of screened women, we observed no significant differences between migrant and autochthonous patients. Migrant women have lower BC incidence than autochthonous women, but diagnosis was more often at younger age and with unfavorable tumor characteristics. Attending the screening program strongly reduces the latter. Therefore, promotion of participation in the screening program is recommended.

Evaluating a Comprehensive and Cost-Effective Accelerated Breast Health Curriculum in Guyana for Healthcare Providers

The incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer continues to rise in Guyana. One key factor contributing to this issue is that Guyana does not have a national breast cancer screening program nor the resources or infrastructure to support one. As a result, it is important to consider cost-effective solutions that can promote the early detection of breast cancer. The literature suggests a promising intervention could address gaps in frontline healthcare providers' knowledge and understanding of breast health. Providers who receive dedicated curricular training in breast health in conjunction with learning the clinical breast exam (CBE) and ultrasound tend to show an increase in their early detection rates. With this in mind, we sought to evaluate an existing breast health curriculum in Georgetown, Guyana, by measuring provider fund of knowledge before and after the intervention. Over 1 week, sixty-two participants, mostly nursing students, were divided into two groups. Each group participated in the two-and-a-half-day course. Participants were given a pretest assessment and then went through an intensive 8-module course complete with CBE training and ultrasound demonstration before taking a posttest. We found that while only one of the sixty-two participants passed the initial pretest assessment, forty of the sixty-two participants passed the posttest. Statistical analysis showed that the difference in test scores between the pretest and the posttest was statistically significant. While more studies are needed, these findings suggest that focusing on the breast health knowledge of providers in Guyana and other similar countries may be a highly effective yet cost-friendly intervention that could significantly improve early detection rates and ease the breast cancer disease burden.

A brief intervention for improving alcohol literacy and reducing harmful alcohol use by women attending a breast screening service: a randomised controlled trial.

To assess the effectiveness of a brief alcohol intervention for improving awareness of alcohol as a breast cancer risk factor, improving alcohol literacy, and reducing alcohol consumption by women attending routine breast screening. Single-site, double-blinded randomised controlled trial. Maroondah BreastScreen (Eastern Health, Melbourne), part of the national breast cancer screening program. Women aged 40 years or more, with or without a history of breast cancer and reporting any alcohol consumption, who attended the clinic for routine mammography during 5February - 27 August 2021. Active arm: animation including brief alcohol intervention (four minutes) and lifestyle health promotion (three minutes). lifestyle health promotion only. Change in proportion of women who identified alcohol use as a clear risk factor for breast cancer (scaled response measure). The mean age of the 557 participants was 60.3 years (standard deviation, 7.7 years; range, 40-87 years); 455 had recently consumed alcohol (82%). The proportions of participants aware that alcohol use increased the risk of breast cancer were larger at four weeks than at baseline for both the active intervention (65% v 20%; odds ratio [OR], 41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 18-97) and control arms of the study (38% v 20%; OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.8-8.8), but the change over time was greater for the active intervention arm (arm × time: P < 0.001). Alcohol literacy also increased to a greater extent in the active than the control arm, but alcohol consumption did not significantly change in either arm. A tailored brief alcohol intervention for women attending breast screening was effective for improving awareness of the increased breast cancer risk associated with alcohol use and alcohol literacy more broadly. Such interventions are particularly important given the rising prevalence of risky drinking among middle-aged and older women and evidence that even very light alcohol consumption increases breast cancer risk. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04715516 (prospective; 20January 2021).

Women's health literacy and attendance in breast cancer screening: a Danish population-based study combining survey and register data.

To investigate the association between women's health literacy and attendance in the Danish national breast cancer screening programme. In a population-based cross-sectional study, information on two health literacy subscales, measured using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ), and sociodemographic factors was obtained from the 'How are you? 2017' survey in the Central Denmark Region. Information on screening attendance was obtained from register data from 2016-2017. Data were linked based on individual civil registration numbers. To account for missing data, multiple imputation by chained equations was implemented to fill in missing values on all variables. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses were performed separately for two HLQ subscales to estimate odds ratio (OR) of screening attendance. Both multiple imputation analyses and complete case analyses were performed. A total of 6012 women were included in multiple imputed statistical analyses. Generally, women had high health literacy levels. In multiple imputed analyses, the unadjusted OR of the primary HLQ subscale, understanding, was 1.32 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10-1.59), indicating higher odds for screening attendance with higher health literacy level. However, after adjustment no significant association between the HLQ subscale of understanding and screening attendance was found (OR 1.09 (95% CI: 0.90-1.33)). Similar results were found for the secondary HLQ subscale of engaging (insignificant association in adjusted analysis). No effect modification from sociodemographic characteristics was found. Similar results were found in complete case analyses. No significant association was found between health literacy and attendance in the Danish breast cancer screening programme.

One-year results of the national breast and cervical cancer screening program: Giresun province in the black sea region

Background/Aim: Increasing the survival rate of patients with breast and cervical cancers is possible by early diagnosis through screening individuals for cancer in the asymptomatic period. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the possibility of early diagnosis in breast and cervical cancers has decreased due to the decrease in cancer screening applications. The aim of cancer screening is to increase the survival of patients by detecting precancerous lesions early. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the application and results of breast and cervical cancer screening in the Black Sea region’s Giresun province. Methods: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The results of patients who were admitted to the Giresun Early Diagnosis Cancer Screening and Education Center between July 1, 2021, and June 28, 2022, were examined. The mammography report results of women aged 40–69 years who applied to the cancer screening center for breast cancer screening, and the HPV and Pap smear results of the patients aged 30–65 years who applied for cervical cancer screening, were evaluated retrospectively through the public health management system. Mammography results were evaluated with BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Dated System) scoring. The type of HPV and the cytology results from cervical swab samples were analyzed for cervical cancer screening. Results: A total of 3567 people underwent mammography. Per the mammography results, the percentage of those with BIRADS 0 was 7.7% (n=278), the percentage of those with BIRADS 1–2 was 91% (n=3256), the percentage of those with BIRADS 4 was 0.7% (n=25), and the percentage of those with BIRADS 5 was 0.14% (n=5). HPV-DNA and cervical cytology examinations were performed for cervical cancer screening in 2326 patients. As a result of cervical cancer screening, HPV positivity was found in 6.44% (n=150) patients, and 14 different HPV types were found in the positive samples. When HPV types were examined, the two most common types were HPV type 16 (13.6%) and type 56 (11.9%). When the HPV types were examined in the positive samples, the two most common types were HPV type 16 (13.6%) and type 56 (11.9%). HPV type 18 was the least detected HPV type in patients (3.7%). When the Pap smear screening results of the 150 cases with positive screening results were examined, 3.33% were ASC-US (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), 22% were reported as infection, and 62.6% were normal. Conclusion: The role of primary care physicians directing patients registered in their coverage area to cancer screening programs is especially effective in raising society’s awareness and education on the issue. As a result, it is important that primary care physicians and related specialist physicians, together with cancer early detection and screening centers, adopt a supportive stance towards these programs in order for them to be implemented effectively.

Breast Cancer Screening Among Women With Intellectual Disability in Denmark

Breast cancer-specific mortality is increased among women with intellectual disability (ID), and knowledge about participation in breast cancer screening in this group is needed. To examine participation in the Danish national breast cancer screening program among women with ID compared with women without ID. This dynamic population-based cohort study assessed participation in the Danish national breast cancer screening program initiated in 2007, targeting women aged 50 to 69 years with a screening interval of 2 years. In all, 6357 women with ID born between 1941 and 1967 and eligible for the screening program were identified in national registers. Women entered the study between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2017. Subsequently, 273 women were excluded due to a history of carcinoma in situ or breast cancer, and 489 due to registration errors in registers. Each woman was individually age-matched with 10 women without ID (reference group). All women were followed up until March 31, 2021, or censoring (due to death, carcinoma in situ, or breast cancer). Data were analyzed from December 1, 2021, to June 31, 2022. Intellectual disability was defined as being registered with an ID diagnosis or a diagnosis most likely leading to ID or residing at an institution for persons with ID. Participation in breast cancer screening (fully, partly, and never). A total of 5595 women with ID and 49 423 age-matched women in the reference group were included in the analysis. Of these, 2747 women with ID (49%) and 24 723 in the reference group (50%) were 50 years of age at study entry; for those older than 50 years, the median age was 51 years (IQR, 50-58 years) in both groups. In all, 1425 women with ID (25%) were fully screened according to guidelines for the Danish breast cancer screening program compared with 30 480 women in the reference group (62%). Women with ID had nearly 5 times higher odds of never being screened compared with the reference group (odds ratio, 4.90 [95% CI, 4.60-5.22]). In all, 2498 women with ID (45%) and 6573 in the reference group (13%) were never screened. The proportion of never-screened women increased with severity of ID, from 834 of 2287 (36%) among women with mild ID to 173 of 212 (82%) among women with profound ID. The findings of this cohort study suggest that women with ID are markedly less likely to participate in breast cancer screening compared with women without ID. These findings further suggest a need for tailored guidelines and approaches for breast cancer screening in this group of women.

Microcalcifications, mammographic breast density, and risk of breast cancer: a cohort study

BackgroundBreast density and microcalcifications are strongly associated with the risk of breast cancer. However, few studies have evaluated the combined association between these two factors and breast cancer risk. We investigated the association between breast density, microcalcifications, and risk of breast cancer.MethodsThis cohort study included 3,910,815 women aged 40–74 years who were screened for breast cancer between 2009 and 2010 and followed up until 2020. The National Health Insurance Service database includes national health-screening results from the national breast cancer screening program, which is an organized screening program provided every 2 years for all women aged 40 years or older. Breast density was assessed based on the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4th edition, mostly through visual assessment by radiologists. The presence or absence of microcalcifications was obtained from the mammographic results. Cox proportional hazard regression for breast cancer risk was used to estimate hazard ratios (aHRs) adjusted for breast cancer risk factors.ResultsA total of 58,315 women developed breast cancer during a median follow-up of 10.8 years. Women with breast cancer had a higher proportion of microcalcifications than women without breast cancer (0.9% vs. 0.3%). After adjusting for breast density, women with microcalcification had a 3.07-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.82–3.35) increased risk of breast cancer compared to women without microcalcification. The combined association between microcalcification and breast density dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer, corresponding to a higher level of breast density. Among postmenopausal women, the highest risk group was women with BI-RADS 4 and microcalcification. These women had more than a sevenfold higher risk than women with BI-RADS 1 and non-microcalcification (aHR, 7.26; 95% CI 5.01–10.53).ConclusionMicrocalcification is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, and its risk is elevated when combined with breast density.

94 (PB-094) Poster - Real world evidence from a Breast Screening pilot for the underprivileged: Experiences from Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike hospitals

Background: In India, less than 5% of women get routine screening for breast cancer due to lack of awareness and the absence of a coordinated national breast cancer screening programme. A community health initiative was launched by Niramai in collaboration with City Health officials in Bangalore as a pilot to increase awareness and make breast health screening available to all. Free breast cancer screening using AI powered Thermalytix test is being offered to all the underprivileged women walking into Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) government hospitals from November 14, 2017 till today (after a break for 15 months during COVID). Materials and methods: This observational study was conducted in 22 BBMP-affiliated primary health centers where outpatient women over the age of 18 years and not pregnant were enrolled. The procedure included a briefing on camp procedures, taking patient consent, identification of eligible candidates, general health education, and conducting the Thermalytix test by a healthcare worker who was trained to use the Thermalytix software tool. Women were triaged using the output generated by Thermalytix 180. Those triaged as red were referred for further detailed imaging investigation in a district hospital using mammography, ultrasound and FNAC/biopsy. Results: A total of 6935 women underwent Thermalytix screening in 22 BBMP hospitals during Nov 2017 to July 2022. A total of 1687 participants were excluded from the analysis as they did not meet the eligibility criteria. The median age of the 5248 eligible participants was 42 years (range 18–86). Among them, 90 women (1.71%) had previously noticed a lump in their breast, 431 women (8.12%) had breast pain, 16 women had complained of nipple discharge, and 5 women had noticed skin discoloration. When screened, 62 (1.2%) women were detected with abnormalities and triaged positive by Thermalytix. Among them 11 women have so far gone through diagnostic investigations, of which 8 were radiologically positive and were recommended for histopathology correlation. The overall test positivity rate of Thermalytix in this cohort was 1.2% and positive predictive value with radiological positivity as reference was found to be 9/11 = 81.81%. Furhter histological analysis reported 1 DCIS and 8 benign fibroadenoma. The tests were conducted in screening camps and the average cost of conducting the test in the field came to around 6.5 USD per person. Conclusions: Thermalytix could be a potential automated screening tool for population-level screening in resource constrained settings. The portable equipment enabled easy movement across different PHCs. Since it is a privacy-aware test, there was less refusal to participate in the test. Community mobilization with the help of the local government health officials was crucial to ensure walk-ins. Conflict of interest: Ownership: yes Board of Directors: yes Corporate-sponsored Research: yes

Healthcare professionals’ views following implementation of risk stratification into a national breast cancer screening programme

BackgroundIt is crucial to determine feasibility of risk-stratified screening to facilitate successful implementation. We introduced risk-stratification (BC-Predict) into the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) at three screening sites in north-west England from 2019 to 2021. The present study investigated the views of healthcare professionals (HCPs) on acceptability, barriers, and facilitators of the BC-Predict intervention and on the wider implementation of risk-based screening after BC-Predict was implemented in their screening site.MethodsFourteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with HCPs working across the breast screening pathway at three NHSBSP sites that implemented BC-Predict. Thematic analysis interpreted the data.ResultsThree pre-decided themes were produced. (1) Acceptability of risk-based screening: risk-stratification was perceived as a beneficial step for both services and women. HCPs across the pathway reported low burden of running the BC-Predict trial on routine tasks, but with some residual concerns; (2) Barriers to implementation: comprised capacity constraints of services including the inadequacy of current IT systems to manage women with different risk profiles and, (3) Facilitators to implementation: included the continuation of stakeholder consultation across the pathway to inform implementation and need for dedicated risk screening admin staff, a push for mammography staff recruitment and guidance for screening services. Telephone helplines, integrating primary care, and supporting access for all language needs was emphasised.ConclusionRisk-stratified breast screening was viewed as a progressive step providing it does not worsen inequalities for women. Implementation of risk-stratified breast screening requires staff to be reassured that there will be systems in place to support implementation and that it will not further burden their workload. Next steps require a comprehensive assessment of the resource needed for risk-stratification versus current resource availability, upgrades to screening IT and building screening infrastructure. The role of primary care needs to be determined. Simplification and clarification of risk-based screening pathways is needed to support HCPs agency and facilitate implementation. Forthcoming evidence from ongoing randomised controlled trials assessing effectiveness of breast cancer risk-stratification will also determine implementation.

Coverage rate of opportunistic and organised breast cancer screening in France: Department-level estimation

ObjectiveIn France, the national breast cancer screening programme (NBCSP), targeting women aged 50–74 years was rolled out nationwide in 2004. It aims at reducing breast cancer mortality. In addition to the NBCSP, the use of opportunistic screening is permitted in France. The objective of this study is to estimate both opportunistic use and overall coverage rates of breast cancer screening, among women 40–84 years of age, in France. MethodsThe French medico-administrative health data system (SNDS) was used to identify women performing an opportunistic or organised mammography screening in France in 2016–2017. ResultsThe two-yearly opportunistic mammography screening is 18 % among women aged 40–84; it is 11 % among women aged 50–74, i.e., the target age range for organised screening, 36 % among women aged 40–49 and 13 % among women aged 75–84. The overall two-yearly screening coverage is 48 % for all women aged 40–84; it is 60 % among women aged 50–74, 36 % among women 40–49 and 16 % for those aged 75–84. Geographical variations in screening are lessened when the two screening strategies are considered, as they balance each other. ConclusionAlthough coverage in the NBCSP is around 50 % in France, more than one third of the women make use of opportunistic screening within and outside the target age range. Organized screening appears to improve equity of access to mammography screening service. The lack of data on opportunistic screening practices hinders the evaluation of French screening practices as a whole.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Breast Cancer Stage at Diagnosis in a Regional Cancer Center in Poland between 2019 and 2021.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on oncology healthcare services in Poland, with a reduction in the national breast cancer (BC) screening program coverage rates. This article analyzes the impact of the pandemic on BC stage at diagnosis in a regional cancer center in Poland. Records from BC multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings that took place in the years 2019–2021 were gathered. BC clinical staging was compared. Age-related subgroups were additionally analyzed to reflect possible screening program disruptions. The total number of BC cases fell by 8% in 2020 compared with 2019, with a 14% fall in the screening age group. In 2021, a stage shift was observed, with stage II BC becoming most frequently diagnosed (as opposed to stage I BC in 2019 and 2020). A statistically significant increase in the number of stage III BC cases was observed in 2021.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) as risk factors for breast cancer: a case–control study in Chinese population

BackgroundPerfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a large family of synthetic chemicals, some of which are mammary toxicants and endocrine disruptors. Recent studies have implicated exposure to PFASs as a risk factor for breast cancer in Europe and America. Little is known about the role of PFASs with respect to breast cancer in the Chinese population.MethodsParticipants who were initially diagnosed with breast cancer at Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital between 2012 and 2016 were recruited as cases. The controls were randomly selected from the participants with available blood samples in the Chinese National Breast Cancer Screening Program (CNBCSP) cohort. Ultimately, we enrolled 373 breast cancer patients and 657 controls. Plasma PFASs were measured by an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system coupled to a 5500 Q-Trap triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. A logistic regression model with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regularization was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the relationships between PFASs and breast cancer. The three most predictive variables in the LASSO model were selected from 17 PFASs, which was based on the optimal penalty coefficient (λ = 0.0218) identified with the minimum criterion. Additionally, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) and quantile g-computation models were applied to evaluate the associations between separate and mixed exposure to PFASs and breast cancer.ResultsPerfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) exhibited the highest concentration in both the cases and controls. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-n-decanoic acid (PFDA) were positively associated with breast cancer, and perfluoro-n-tridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) was negatively associated with breast cancer according to both the continuous-PFASs and the quartile-PFASs logistic regression models. Of note, PFOA was associated with the occurrence of estrogen receptor (ER)-, progesterone receptor (PR)-, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer (ORER+ = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.80; ORPR+ = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09, 1.69; ORHER2 = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.19, 2.21).ConclusionsOverall, we observed that PFASs were associated with breast cancer in Chinese women. Prospective cohort studies and mechanistic experiments are warranted to elucidate whether these associations are causal.

Results of the National Breast Cancer Screening Program in Croatia (2006-2016)

AimTo assess the uptake of the Croatian National Breast Cancer Screening Program from 2006 to 2016.MethodsThe Croatian National Breast Cancer Screening Program, a biennial program targeting women aged 50-69, started in October 2006. From 2006 to 2016, four cycles were completed. One cycle lasted two years, with the exception of the first cycle, which lasted three years. To determine the number of detected cancers in each cycle, the screening program data were merged with the data of the Croatian National Cancer Registry. Our results were compared with the reference values from the European guidelines for quality assurance in breast cancer screening and diagnosis.ResultsAround 150 000 mammography exams were performed every year. The response rates for cycle 1, cycle 2, cycle 3, and cycle 4 were 63%, 57%, 60%, and 59%, respectively. Further assessment rate was 6.5%. Breast cancer was identified in 5583 women, with 4.8 cancers detected per 1000 mammography exams.ConclusionThe National Breast Cancer Screening Program in Croatia reached a substantial proportion of the target group. Yet, additional efforts are needed to reach at least 70% of the target population.