Clinical breast exam, and mammography in women referred to health centers in Tabriz, Iran.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer death in women as well as the most common cause of death in Iranian women aged 35-55 years. Detection of breast cancer in its early stages is amenable to almost complete cure. Breast cancer screening comprises breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. The study aimed to examine the performance of CBE and mammography among women referring to health centers of Tabriz, Iran.
METHODS: This was a descriptive-analytical research carried out on 400 women aged 20-50 years. The samples were chosen through random multistage sampling among health centers of Tabriz then active records of women. A questionnaire and observational checklist was used to elicit socio-demographic information and performance of women towards breast cancer screening methods. Descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and Fisher’s exact test) were used to analyze the data through SPSS 13.
RESULTS: Only 19.1% of women had clinical breast examination and 3.3% had mammogram. The main reasons why women had not performed breast cancer screening were as follows: being unaware of breast screening methods, not having a breast problem and not feeling the necessity... There was a significant correlation between performing CBE and history of breast tumor and also, between performing the mammography and family history of breast cancer and history of breast tumor (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The findings showed that the performance of breast cancer screening methods was not satisfactory. In addition, their performance in high risk women was very desirable than others. The presentation of imperative education about breast cancer screening methods through health staff especially in pregnancy, post-partum and even in premarriage councelling periods seems necessary.