Breast Cancer Risk Stratification and Screening Practices of Women in South Kerala, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in India, making it the most common cancer among women. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial for reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving the quality of life for patients. However, breast cancer mortality rates are higher in India compared to other parts of the world, possibly due to late-stage diagnosis. Regular screening is key to early detection, but population screening is not feasible in India due to limited resources. Therefore, high-risk screening is a more practical approach. Assessing individual risk using a breast cancer risk calculator can help identify asymptomatic women at high-risk and motivate them to undergo regular screening, leading to early detection. Aim: To assess the risk of developing breast cancer among women in Kerala using a breast cancer risk calculator and to describe their screening practices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1861 women aged over 30 years in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Personal details of the participants, major known risk factors of breast cancer, and information about breast cancer screening practices were collected using a questionnaire. Breast cancer risk stratification was performed using the Snehita breast cancer risk calculator. Results: According to the breast cancer risk calculator, 12.74% of the women were classified as high-risk and 65.18% had a normal risk of developing breast cancer. Among the participants, 82.64% stated that they had never undergone any breast cancer screening procedures. Conclusion: Despite Kerala being a state with high female literacy rate, the screening practices for breast cancer were found to be very low (17.36%). Additionally, 12.74% of the women were identified as being at high-risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer risk calculators can serve as a motivational tool to encourage women to undergo regular screening.