[Work experience of the WHO International Reference Center in assessing the effectiveness of self-examination for the early diagnosis of breast cancer (results of 2 years' research)]

Abstract

A prospective controlled study of the effectiveness of self-examination for early detection of breast cancer has been conducted in Leningrad since 1985. The study was carried out in a cohort of 90,000 females at 28 in- and outpatient clinics within 24 months. As a result, breast cancer was identified in 82 cases. Mean size of primary tumor proved 1.0 cm less and tumor detected 4.8 months earlier than those with standard diagnostic procedures. The cohort is planned to expand to 150,000 by the end of 1988. Data on correlation between application of self-examination and breast cancer mortality are expected by 1994.