Early detection of breast cancer

One thousand referred patients with breast symptoms, a history of breast disease, or a family history of breast carcinoma have been examined at a suburban breast clinic. This is a preliminary survey of the data and results so far obtained from the initial examination of these patients. The examination consisted of history-taking by means of a questionnaire, physical examination of the breasts, thermography and xeromammography. A report correlating the findings was forwarded to the referring doctor in each case and any necessary action was indicated in the report. Seventy-eight patients were thought to require biopsy of a suspicious lump or mammographic lesion (7.8% of the total number); 76 patients actually had biopsies, and 18 patients were found to have carcinoma of the breast (23.8% of the total number of patients who had biopsies). The overall incidence of carcinoma in the 1000 women attending the clinic was 1.8% at the initial visit. While general population screening for breast carcinoma may be hard to justify, from both the detection rate and an economic point of view, it would appear from our experience to date that screening of selected high-risk referred patients is justified and, in fact, desirable.