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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Ying Ye, University of Illinois at Chicago, 5 Groton Court, Lincolnshire, IL 60069, 8474781720, yingye2@uic.edu

Although the American Cancer Society recommends Breast Self-Examination (BSE) for early detection of breast cancer, current results for BSE's efficacy were inconsistent. To control known and unknown influences and biases, randomization clinical trial (RCT) has been suggested as the best way to identify the possible moderate or small effect of BSE. Results from two recent large published RCTs for BSE assessment did not show the efficacy of BSE. If BSE is not efficacious then it should be ruled out as an important method to prevent breast cancer. To evaluate the effect of BSE for early detection of breast cancer on reducing the breast cancer mortality, this paper re-analyzed the data from these two RCTs. The statistical power was estimated. Results from these two RCTs had insufficient statistical power since these studies had only 37 – 57% power to detect a change less than 20% decrease in breast cancer mortality. The sample size estimates were given for a 10-year RCT with 80% power to detect a 10 – 20% reduction in breast cancer mortality in the US population. Overall, there is no evidence yet to rule out BSE as an important method to detect breast cancer in early stage. Women should be still encouraged to practice the BSE routinely to reduce the breast cancer mortality.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Recognize that there is no evidence yet to rule out breast self-examination as an important method to detect breast cancer in early stage.
• Apply routine breast self-examination (applicable to women only).
• Prioritize the importance of breast self-examination.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Cancer Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered