Most Breast Cancers Self Detected By Women Under Age 45 Years

David Lashak / DGReview 10aug01

Review of:
Patterns and predictors of the breast cancer detection methods in women under 45 years of age (United States)
Cancer Causes and Control 12 (5):431-442, June 2001. [ Abstract below ]

"Patterns and predictors of the breast cancer detection methods in women under 45 years of age (United States)" Cancer Causes and Control

Most breast cancers among women under age 45 years are self-detected.

Few factors other than age and prior screening are verified predictors of method of breast cancer detection.

Researchers in the Division of Cancer Prevention of Control, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia, and other United States institutions derived these findings from a study, which examined patterns and predictors of breast cancer detection methods during 1990-1992 among women aged 20-44.

The researchers observed that few studies had examined the methods by which breast cancers were detected and only one study on predictors of those methods had been published.

The researchers obtained interview and medical record data on 1,619 women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer in three areas of the US.

Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) of the breast cancers were identified by self-detection. Nine percent were found by routine clinical breast exam and 20 percent by routine mammography.

Cancers detected by mammography and clinical breast exam, but not those detected by self-exam, were more likely to be early stage.

Detection by mammography increased with age, and a history of mammography use was associated with detection by mammography or clinical breast exam.

The researchers report that several commonly studied predictors of screening use in the US were associated with clinical breast exam detection, but were less clearly related to or unrelated to mammography detection.


Abstract

Patterns and predictors of the breast cancer detection methods in women under 45 years of age (United States)

Cancer Causes and Control 12 (5):431-442, June 2001.

Ralph J. Coates
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC, K-55, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA; Ph.: (770) 488-3003; Fax: (770) 488-4639; rjc5@cdc.gov

Robert J. Uhler
Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, CDC, K-55, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341-3717, USA; Ph.: (770) 488-3003; Fax: (770) 488-4639

Donna J. Brogan
Department of Biostatistics, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA

Marilie D. Gammon
Division of Epidemiology, Columbia School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032, USA

Kathleen E. Malone
Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, DC 98104, USA

Christine A. Swanson
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

Elaine W. Flagg
Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA

Louise A. Brinton
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA

Abstract
Objectives: Few studies have examined methods by which breast cancers are detected, and only one study has been published on predictors of those methods. This study examined patterns and predictors of breast cancer detection methods during 1990–1992 among women age 20–44.Methods: In-person interview and medical record data were obtained during a population-based case–control study of 1619 women newly diagnosed with breast cancer in three areas of the United States (US). Results: Seventy-one percent of the cancers were identified by self-detection, 9% by routine clinical breast exam (CBE), and 20% by routine mammography. Cancers detected by mammography and CBE, but not those detected by breast self-exam, were much more likely to be early-stage. Detection by mammography increased with age, and a history of mammography use was associated with detection by mammography or CBE. Several commonly studied predictors of screening utilization in the US population were associated with CBE detection, but were less clearly related to or unrelated to mammography detection. Conclusion: Findings suggest that, during the 1990s in the US, most breast cancers among women under age 45, including those age 40–44, were self-detected. Few factors other than age and prior screening are verified predictors of method of breast cancer detection.

Keywords
breast cancer, detection, mammography, screening, young women

If you have come to this page from an outside location click here to get back to mindfully.org