Clinical Examination as a Screening Method for Breast Cancer

Abstract

A five-year experience of a breast cancer screening clinic in a Scottish urban area is reported. During this period 28 per cent of the female population aged 25 to 70 years was screened by clinical examination alone. The pick-up rate for cancers was 7.8 per 1,000 ‘well’ women examined, and 21 per cent of all patients with cancer were under 40 years old. Clinical examination is an effective and economical method of screening for breast cancer. The establishment of similar clinics to detect breast disease in women of all age groups is recommended.