Incidence and mortality from breast cancer in the mama program for breast screening in Finland, 1973–1986

Abstract

Background. A cohort of women enrolled in the Mama breast self‐examination‐(BSE) containing breast screening program in Finland from 1973 through 1975 (with BSE used for screening and mammography for diagnosis) was studied. Methods. Twenty‐eight thousand seven hundred eighty‐five women who returned calendars recording their practice of BSE over a 2‐year period have been followed by linkage with the records of the Finnish Cancer Registry through 1986. The incidence of and mortality from breast cancer was compared with that expected in the Finnish population based on a model incorporating Finnish national data for breast cancer incidence and case fatality. Results. Breast cancer incidence was higher than expected (a rate ratio of 1.19 over all ages). The stage distribution of cases was not different from that expected from Finnish cancer registry data for 1980, but the breast cancer mortality was lower than expected (a rate ratio of 0.75). The latter difference occurred mainly in Years 3–6 of the follow‐up period. The effect seemed similar in women under and over the age of 50 years. The cohort was of higher educational status than the Finnish population, and the mortality from all causes was lower than the general Finnish population, an effect seen in previous studies of compliers with breast screening. Conclusions. The reduction in mortality from breast cancer in the study cohort is consistent with an effect of the BSE‐containing Mama program, though selection bias, inherent in any observational study of screening, provided an alternative explanation for the findings.

Evaluation on the Practice and Behaviour of Women Applied for Gynecology Outpatient Clinics About Screening Methods for Early Diagnosis of Breast Cancer

“…BSE has certain limitations; today, it is considered as an auxiliary method for essential breast cancer screening methods (26,27). There are several studies from the past mentioning the effectiveness of BSE and the requirement to recommend its administration (6,28,29). It is a economical method that is easy to implement and keeps the patients' awareness alive.…”

Projection of Cancer Incident Cases for India - Till 2026

“…Alcohol consumption increases the risk of breast cancer (Anstey and Cheurbin, 2010;Tamimi et al, 2005). A cohort study in Finland (Gastrin et al,1994) and a case control study in Canada (Harvey et al,1997) suggested Breast self Examination to be beneficial (reduction in breast cancer mortality) at all ages. Regarding secondary prevention, Breast Self Examination may be the most effective approach in much of Asia, if only to improve awareness and early presentation at hospital when symptoms are detected (Moore and Sobue, 2010).…”

Breast self-examination and death from breast cancer: a meta-analysis

“…Cohort studies of women with and without breast cancer The two cohort studies were from Finland (Gastrin et al, 1994) and the USA (Holmberg et al, 1997). In these, breast cancer death rates according to BSE practice were reported in populations of women followed up for over 13 years.…”

“…In these, breast cancer death rates according to BSE practice were reported in populations of women followed up for over 13 years. In one study (Gastrin et al, 1994), mammography was used only as a method of further investigation after a woman found a lump by BSE. In the other study, the followup period was until 1972 when mammography was not commonplace.…”

“…In several studies, about half or more of the women in the BSE groups had reported that they checked their breasts monthly (Feldman et al, 1981;Smith and Burns, 1985;Ogawa et al, 1987;Le Geyte et al, 1992). In the two cohort studies (Gastrin et al, 1994;Holmberg et al, 1997) women were classified as BSE practitioners, if they did so monthly. In the Russian trial, 76% of women taught BSE reported practising it at least every 2 months (Semiglazov et al, 1999), and in the Chinese trial women practised BSE at least every 4 -5 months during the first 4 -5 years of the trial and were strongly encouraged to practise it monthly (Thomas et al, 2002).…”