Breast self-exams in a group of women participating in mammography screening Elżbieta Garwacka-Czachor, Adam Maciejczyk

Abstract

Introduction. A key role in the struggle against breast cancer is played by secondary prevention, which includes breast self-exams, clinical tests, and mammography screening. The purpose of the study was to analyze the impact of age, education, and selected breast cancer risk factors on the frequency with which women participating in the mammography screening program perform breast self-exams.

Material and methods. The study group consisted of 32,626 women aged 50–69, enrolled in the Early Breast Cancer Detection Program in Lower Silesia between January 2007 and 2011. The study was conducted by means of a diagnostic survey and the frequency of breast self-exams was analyzed as a function of age, education, and selected risk factors.

Results. Only 14% of respondents, mostly younger and better educated, reported that they examined their breasts regularly every month. Exposure to risk factors had a negligible impact on the frequency of self-exams.

Conclusions. Younger and better educated women were more likely to perform breast self-exams. Risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer and the prolonged use of hormonal medication, did not have a significant impact on self-exam frequency. Monthly self-exams were more often reported by women suffering from breast-related ailments, probably because of the associated experience of pain and discomfort.