title: Breast screening in north India: a cost-effective cancer prevention strategy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. Breast screening in normal and/or asymptomatic women is essential to reduce the burden of breast malignancies. Our study aimed to identify possible risk- and/or co-factors associated with breast screening in North Indian women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A public health research survey was conducted among 100 women of North Indian ethnicity during clinic visits in a 6-month timeline (April-October 2012). Demographic and clinical data, including mammography screening, were recorded in the questionnaire-based proforma after conducting a 10 minute interview. Written informed consent was taken from all the participants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the participants was 32.2±9.9 years. Out of 100 women, 6% had family history of breast disease. Breast-related complaints/malignancy, including galactorrhoea, mastitis, axillary lump, fibrocystic disease, fibroadenosis and adenocarcinoma were observed in 41% participants; age stratification revealed that 82.9% of this group (n=41) were <30 years, while 9.7% and 7.3% were >30 years and 30 years of age, respectively. 32% participants underwent mammography screening and 8% had breast ultrasound imaging. Age stratification in the mammography screening group demonstrated that 24 women were <40 years, while 7 women were >40 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our pilot study identified possible co-factors affecting breast screening in North Indian women. These findings may be beneficial in early detection of breast abnormalities, including malignancies in women susceptible to breast cancer, and thus aid in future design of cost-effective screening strategies to reduce the increasing burden of breast carcinoma in women worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Krishna Medical Centre, Rana Pratap Marg, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. saumyapandey6@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Saumya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.lastname: Chandravati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human