Breast cancer screening programme: experience from Eastern province, Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Radiology

Background:

• Breast cancer early diagnosis programs are scarce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.
• A non-governmental breast cancer screening initiative was established in Saudi Arabia in 2009.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the outcomes of a non-governmental breast cancer screening program in Saudi Arabia.
• To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of mobile mammography units for widespread screening.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 14 health centers utilizing 2 mobile mammography units.
• Annual screening was offered to women aged 40 and above.
• Data were collected from October 2009 to February 2014.

Main Results:

• A total of 8061 women were screened, with an uptake rate of 15.0%.
• The cancer detection rate was 5.83 per 1000 women, with 70.2% of cancers detected being early-stage (no mass or <2 cm).
• The mean age of women diagnosed with cancer was 50.4 years.

Conclusions:

• Screening parameters align with international standards, indicating program effectiveness.
• Despite ongoing debates on universal screening, a national breast cancer screening program is essential for Saudi Arabia.
• The study underscores the importance of accessible screening for early breast cancer detection.