THE EFFECT OF MASS-SCREENING BY PHYSICAL-EXAMINATION COMBINED WITH REGULAR BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION ON CLINICAL STAGE AND COURSE OF JAPANESEWOMEN WITH BREAST-CANCER

A mass screening program for breast cancer in Japan consists of physic al examination (PE) and education on regular breast self-examination ( BSE). The effect of PE with BSE on clinical stages and courses of brea st cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical stages and courses were compared between; i) patients who were examined in outpat ient clinics (OPC, n=587), ii) patients who were detected by mass scre ening with regular BSE [BSE(+), n=68], and iii) without BSE [BSE(-), n =178]. Clinical stage in BSE(+) was significantly earlier than that in BSE(-) or OPC. As early stage cancer was most common in BSE(+), conse rvative surgery was mostly selected. Survival curve in BSE(+) was sign ificantly better than those in BSE(-) or OPC. BSE complements the role of mass screening by PE for early detection and a more favorable clin ical course.