Breast Or Cervical Cancer Screening Programme: Which One Needs to Stress in Changing Trend? Why?

Abstract

Background: In India the cervix cancer rates are decreasing while breast cancer is on the increase and is likely to continue due to further changes in lifestyle factors. Early detection of breast carcinoma by complete breast examination or mammography helps in significant reduction in mortality. Methods The authors have carried out a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in Surat by collecting breast cytology and histopathology data of 159 and180 patients respectively as well as Pap smear data and cervix histopathology data of 3136 and 804 patients respectively. And finally we have analyzed both the data for calculating the percentage incidence of both type of malignancy in women of different age groups. Result: Breast cytology data and biopsy data show malignancy in 41.51% and 60% of cases respectively and in Pap smear screening and cervix histopathology data show malignant features in only 0.1% and 24.13% cases respectively with maximum number of cases were in age group of 41-50 years. Interpretation & conclusions: Total percentage of breast malignancy is significantly higher as compared to cervix malignancy which suggests need for emphasis on screening for breast malignancy along with Pap smear. India is at a crossroads and needs urgent steps to introduce appropriate screening methods to reduce breast cancer presentations in late stages and reduce mortality.

Keywords

• Breast cancer
• cervix cancer
• cancer screening
• time trends