Effect of screening by clinical breast examination on breast cancer incidence and mortality after 20 years: prospective, cluster randomised controlled trial in Mumbai.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To test the efficacy of screening by clinical breast examination in downstaging breast cancer at diagnosis and in reducing mortality from the disease, when compared with no screening.

Design

Prospective, cluster randomised controlled trial.

Setting

20 geographically distinct clusters located in Mumbai, India, randomly allocated to 10 screening and 10 control clusters; total trial duration was 20 years (recruitment began in May 1998; database locked in March 2019 for analysis).

Participants

151 538 women aged 35-64 with no history of breast cancer.

Interventions

Women in the screening arm (n=75 360) received four screening rounds of clinical breast examination (conducted by trained female primary health workers) and cancer awareness every two ye

SUBMITTER: Mittra I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7903383 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature