Knowledge Breast cancer tumors are smaller in cantons with screening programs

Breast cancer screening programs are having an effect. In cantons without such programs, breast cancer tumors are larger at the time of diagnosis than in cantons with screening programs, a new study shows.

In addition, tumors in the lymph nodes were detected significantly less frequently in cantons with screening programs, as the Lucerne Cantonal Hospital and the Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna announced on Monday.

According to the press release, early detection of breast cancer tumors increases the quality of life of those affected. It reduces the number of chemotherapies required and the duration of anti-hormonal therapies. In addition, breast reconstructions are less often necessary with earlier detection.

In cantons with a screening program, healthy women between the ages of 50 and 69 regularly receive a letter inviting them to have a mammogram, an X-ray examination of the breasts. However, some cantons, including the central Swiss cantons of Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri, do not have such a screening program.

"Unique case worldwide"

For their study, the Lucerne researchers have now compared data from around 19,200 people with breast cancer in cantons with a screening program with data from around 2,300 patients from cantons without such a program. The results were published in the October issue of the journal "ESMO Open".

"This globally unique case in a single small country with a very high standard of living, but with different screening strategies, shows the benefits of organized breast screening programs," the researchers wrote in the study.

SDA