• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.155-164
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting early detection behaviors of breast cancer such as breast self examination(BSE), breast physical examination, mammography. Method: The subjects were 141 women on an island and materials were collected through an organized questionnaire from March, to August 2002. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, $x^2$ and logistic analysis by SAS program. Results: 52.7% of the subjects performed breast self examination, 67.2% did breast physical examination and 67.7% did mammography. That is, about 60% of the subjects performed early detection behavior to find the breast cancer. Practice of breast self examination was significantly correlated with experience of physician examination and mammography. The most significant factor on BSE was a normal salted diet, and the most significant factor on physical examination and mammography was the high education level of subjects. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, it suggests that intensive education and information strategies for breast cancer early detection need to be developed. In particular, early detection programs for lower educated women should be activated.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7639-7644
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in Sri Lanka. Early detection can lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality. The objective here was to identify perceptions of public health midwives (PHMs) on the importance of early detection of breast cancer and deficiencies of and suggestions on improving existing breast cancer early detection services provided through Well Woman Clinics. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study using four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among 38 PHMs in the Gampaha district in Sri Lanka and the meetings were audio-recorded, transcribed and analyzed using constant comparison and identifying themes and categories. Results: All the PHMs had a firm realization on the need of breast cancer early detection. The four FGDs among PHMs revealed non-availability of guidelines, inadequacy of training, lack of skills and material to provide health education, inability to provide privacy during clinical examination, shortage of stationery, lack of community awareness and motivation. The suggestions for the improvements of the programme identified in FGDs were capacity building of PHMs, making availability of guidelines, rescheduling clinics, improving the supervision, strengthening the monitoring, improving coordination between clinical and preventive sectors, and improving community awareness. Conclusions: Results of the FGDs can provide useful information on components to be improved in breast cancer early detection services. Study recommendations were training programmes at basic and post basic levels on a regular basis and supervision for the sustainance of the breast cancer early detection program.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5595-5597
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• 2015

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a new non-invasive, mobile screening method which does not use ionizing radiation to the human breast. It is based on the theory that cancer cells display altered local dielectric properties, thus demonstrating measurably higher conductivity values. This article reviews the utilisation of EIT in breast cancer detection. It could be used as an adjunct to mammography and ultrasonography for breast cancer screening.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.733-738
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• 2013

Background: Breast and cervical cancers are significant causes of mortality and morbidity for Asian women, and poor English-speaking ability is a barrier to cancer prevention practices. Materials and Methods: This project tested relationships among English-speaking ability and early detection practices regarding to breast and cervical cancer among female Chinese immigrants. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. Results: 175 female Chinese immigrants completed the survey in the breast cancer prevention section, and 35 of them also completed the cervical cancer prevention section. Some 63% of them had heard about the clinical breast exam (CBE), but only 54% had had a CBE. While 46% of the participants were aware of their need for a Pap smear, only 31% had heard about it and had undergone a pelvic exam. Conclusions: English-speaking ability was strongly associated with immigrant women's knowledge of female cancer early detection. Culturally and linguistic issues should be considered as the first step to access immigrant population in designing future education intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2013

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in females in Sri Lanka and early detection can lead to reduction in morbidity and mortality. Aim: To evaluate selected aspects of breast cancer early detection services implemented through well woman clinics (WWCs) in the Gampaha District. Methods: The study consisted of two components. A retrospective descriptive arm assessed clinical breast examination (CBE) coverage of target age group women (TGW) of 35-59 years in all the WWCs in Gampaha district over 2003-2007. A cross sectional descriptive study additionally assessed quality of breast cancer early detection services. The Lot Quality Assurance Sampling (LQAS) technique was used to decide on the lot size and threshold values, which were computed as twenty and six clinics. Checklists were employed in assessing coverage, physical facilities and clinic activities. Client satisfaction on WWC services was assessed among 200 TGW attending 20 WWCs using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Results: CBE coverage in the Gampaha district increased only from 1.1-2.2% over 2003-2007. With regard to physical facilities, the number of clinics that were rated substandard varied between 7-18 (35-90%). The items that were lacking included dust bins, notice boards, stationary, furniture and linen, and cleanliness of outside premises and toilets. With regard to clinic activities, punctuality of staff, late commencement of clinics, provision of health education, supervision, CBE and breast self-examination (BSE) were substandard in 7-20 clinics (35-100%). Client satisfaction for WWC services was 45.2% (IQR: 38.7-54.8%) and only 11% had a score of ${\geq}70%$, the cut off set for satisfaction. Conclusions: Breast cancer early detection service coverage in the Gampaha district remained low (2.2%) in 2007, 11 years after commencing WWCs. All 20 clinics were substandard for overall CBE and BSE.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.4647-4650
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• 2013

Background: Breast illumination was suggested as a simple method for breast cancer screening. BreastLight is a simple apparatus for this purpose. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of BreastLight as a screening tool of breast cancer in comparison to mammography and histopathology. Materials and Methods: This hospital-based cross sectional study was conducted in the mammography unit of the radiodiagnosis department at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. All participants were subjected to breast examination with the BreastLight tool, mammography and ultrasonography. Suspicious cases were biopsied for histopathological examination which is considered as a gold standard. Results: The mean age of the participants was $46.3{\pm}12.4$ years. Breast illumination method had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and total accuracy of 93.0%, 73.7%, 91.4%, 77.8% and 88.2%, respectively in detection of breast cancer. Conclusions: Breast illumination method with BreastLight apparatus is a promising easy-to-use tool to screen for breast cancer suitable for primary health care physician or at-home use. It needs further evaluation especially in asymptomatic women.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.7301-7307
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• 2013

Background: Conspicuous differences in participation rates for breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and referral for further investigations have been observed indicating involvement of a number of different factors. This study analysed determinants for participation in different levels of the breast cancer screening process in Indian females. Materials and Methods: An intervention group of 52,011 women was interviewed in a breast cancer screening trial in Trivandrum district, India. In order to assess demographic, socio-economic, reproductive, and cancer-related determinants of participation in BSE, CBE, and referral, uni- and multi-variate logistic regression was employed. Results: Of the interviewed women, 23.2% reported practicing BSE, 96.8% had attended CBE, and 49.1% of 2,880 screen-positives attended referral. Results showed an influence of various determinants on participation; women who were currently not married or who had no family history of cancer were significantly less likely to attend the screening process at any level. Conclusions: Increasing awareness about breast cancer, early detection methods, and the advantages of early diagnoses among women, and their families, as well as health care workers offering social support, could help to increase participation over the entire screening process in India.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2002

Positron emission tomography(PET) is an imaging method that employs radionuclide and tomography techniques. Since 1995, we applied PET not only to the diagnosis of breast cancer but also to the detection of abnormalities in the augmented breast and to the detection of metastasis. Until 2001, we evaluated 242 breast cases by PET at PET center of Seoul National University Hospital. Our group has reported serially at the international journals. In the first report, PET showed high sensitivity for detecting breast cancer, both the primary and axillary node metastasis. A total of 27 patients underwent breast operations based on PET results at Seoul National University Hospital from 1995 to 1996. The diagnostic accuracy of PET were 97% for the primary tumor mass and 96% for axillary lymph node metastasis. In case of the breast augmented, PET also showed excellent diagnostic results for primary breast cancer and axillary lymph node metastasis where mammography and ultrasound could not diagnose properly. PET also had outstanding results in the detection of recurrent or metastatic breast cancer(sensitivity 94%, specificity 80%, accuracy 89%). In addition, our study gave some evidence that PET could be applied further to evaluate the growth rate of tumors by measuring SUV, and finally to prognosticated the disease. PET could also be applied to evaluate the response after chemotherapy to measure its metabolic rate and size. In conclsion, PET is a highly sensitive, accurate diagnostic tool for breast cancer of primary lesion in various conditions including metastasis.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2009

Objectives: The current study evaluated the effects of an integrated breast health program according to levels of breast cancer risk appraisal on knowledge on breast cancer, early detection behaviors, and diet patterns and attitudes in Korean healthy women. Method: A nonequivalent control group pre-posttest design was used. A total of 413 women aged 40-59, registering at the Life Long Health Center in two cities, were classified into intervention groups of 179 women and control groups of 234 women. The integrated breast health program included education, counseling on breast cancer, early detection behaviors, and appropriate diet with multimedia and individual practice session using breast models, reflecting characteristics of each level according to levels of risk appraisal. The knowledge on breast cancer, early detection behaviors, and diet were investigated using questionnaires at baseline and three months after intervention. Results: In both normal and borderline-risk group, intervention groups reported significantly higher scores of knowledge on breast cancer and higher stages of BSE behaviors than control groups. Conclusion: The results showed positive effects on knowledge and early detection behaviors of breast cancer in normal and borderline-risk groups. Further studies should investigate longitudinal effects of the intervention program on dietary change.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Medical Physics Conference
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• 2002.09a
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• pp.481-484
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• 2002

In every cancer early detection and early treatment is the best way to decrease mortality of patients. Moreover early detection of breast cancer increases the possibility of breast conservation treatment. Although mammography is the most powerful modality for early detection, it is hazardous to be used for young women due to X-ray exposure. Another modality of image diagnosis is ultrasound echo technique. But it is not so powerful to detect breast cancer compared to mammography. Palpation is another modality, but is largely dependent on the skill and experience of medical doctors. A new technique is tested its validity in phantom experiments with good results.