2005 Volume 53 Issue 1 Pages 15-19
The detection rates for malignant breast tumors and breast cancer were investigated in 7,317 first-time visits and 6,645 revisits at the Nagano Cancer Center over the last 20 years.
The detection rate for malignant breast tumors among first-time visits was 11.4% and among those reexamined, 1.3%. In terms of the reason for the visit, those in the referral group (26.9%) were the highest, followed by the mass screening group (4.1%), the voluntary visit group (2.4%) and other physical check-up group (2.3%).
The proportion of malignant breast tumors was shown to rise with increasing age. That among women over 70 was the highest of all the age groups.
In terms of the presence or absence of subjective symptoms among first-timers with breast cancer, the group with palpable mass was the largest, followed by that with abnormal nipple discharge, and that with mastodynia. The group without subjective symptoms was the samllest.
Among the revisits with breast cancer, those with a palpable mass were the most numerous.
The above results suggest the importance of education about self-examination for breast cancer.
