Evaluation of the effects of mammography screening program on cancer progression and implemented treatment in patients with breast cancer.

UNLABELLED

The primary goal of mammography screening is to decrease mortality in patients with breast cancer.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY

Evaluation of the screening program results on course of implemented therapy and its results in breast carcinoma patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Evidence includes data on the group of 1818 patients with breast cancer that were subject to surgical treatment at the Clinic of Breast Cancer and Reconstructive Surgery of the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz (558 patients hospitalized from January 2006 to December 2006 and 1260 patients treated from January 2011 to June 2012). Analysis included type of diagnostic procedure implemented before surgical treatment, as well as grade of cancer progression, results of pathology tests done on specimens and type of surgical procedure. Additionally, the screening group (tumor diagnosed based on screening mammography) and symptomatic group (cancer diagnosed otherwise that within the screening program) were identified.

RESULTS

In 2006, in 28.4% of patients included in the study, primary tumor was discover in screening process (vs 61.5% in 2011-2012). In the first period, 35.7% of changes did not exceed 2 cm--cT1 (vs 48.3% in 2011-2012), while the percentage of cT4 was 9.9% (vs 4.7% in 2011-2012). In 2006, 30.8% of patients were treated in the grade I of clinical progression (vs 44.2% in 2011-2012), 53.4% in the grade II, 14% in grade III and 0.2% in grade IV (vs 45.7%, 9.7%, and 0.4%, respectively). In 45.5% (2006) and 39.9% (in 2011-2012) of patients, metastases were found in axillary lymph nodes. Differences were similar both in screening and symptomatic group. In 2006, in 12.4% of surgical patients breast conserving therapy (BCT) was implemented (vs 49.8% in 2011-2012). In the screening group, it was applied in 15.2% of patients (in 2006) and in 63% (in 2011- 2012), while in symptomatic group the percentages were 11.8% and 41%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

In both periods of analysis, significant differences were observed as to implementation of breast cancer screening program, as well as to grade of clinical and pathological progression of the cancer. Observable increase of screening tests allowed for significantly more frequent implementation of breast conserving surgical procedures.