What is Breast Screening.

Breast screening refers to investigating a woman’s breasts for presence of any malignancy. In breast screening for cancer, certain investigations are carried out on an asymptomatic (without signs or symptoms) apparently healthy woman to detect whether she has breast cancer or not.

Breast Cancer and Screening.

These investigations include the following tests.

Breast screening aims at detection of breast cancer in the early stages to bring down the breast cancer mortality rates and improve breast cancer survival.

Breast Screening Guidelines|Breast Screening Recommendations.

In women under the age of 40 years, the demonstrable benefits of breast screening are not much. They are advised to do self breast exam every month and get the feel of their breasts which can make it easier for them to detect any abnormality, if and when it arises.

  • In women over 40 years of age, self breast exam is advised regularly (every month) and a clinical breast exam by a medical practitioner is advised very two years.
  • In women over the age of 50 years, along with regular self breast exam and clinical breast exam every two years, breast screening is advised at an interval of every two years.
  • After the age of 70 years, breast screening benefits diminish and is not advised. However, self breast exam and clinical breast exams are advised as before.
  • In women with high breast cancer risks, more aggressive and more frequent screening steps as explained above, are advised after the age of 40 years. In women with high cancer risks, we can include women with a family history of breast cancer, previous history of breast or ovarian cancer or a confirmed BRCA mutation detected on genetic screening.

Note: A recent study conducted in Boston concluded that there could be a 60% lifetime reduction in breast cancer deaths if regular breast screening was done after the age of 40 years.

Free Breast Screening.

Many countries offer free breast screening for its population. A few examples are cited below.

  • In some countries, like U.K., NHS Breast screening program provides free breast screening for all women of age 50 years and above, every three years.
  • Similarly, Canada has the Ontario Breast Screening Program (ODSP), which keeps inviting all women between the age of 50 years and 74 years every two years for free breast screening.

After Breast Screening.

On detection of any abnormality on breast screening, breast biopsy is advised to confirm presence or absence of malignancy.

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Breast screening procedures.

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