Women with breast cancer worries need to take early action

At the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month today, preliminary results from a study, which identified factors that inhibit women from accessing breast cancer services, conducted by Athlone Institute of Technology in association with the Irish Cancer Society, were revealed.The study, conducted in four major cancer care hospitals representing every province in Ireland, included 52 breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with breast cancer between 2004 to 2009.The average age of women in the study was 53 years. The oldest participant was 81 years and the youngest was 31 years.When diagnosed, 30% of participants had a breast lump greater than 4cm, 60% of participants had a breast lump in the range of 2.1 - 4cm in size, with only 10% had a tumour size of less than 2cm. A tumour size of less than 2cm signifies Stage 1 breast cancer which is the earliest stage of this cancer(1).The key results of the study showed that:* On discovering the lump or change in their breast, 58% of the women in the study went immediately to see a healthcare professional, 8% waited for two weeks, 6% for one month, 4% for two months, 4% for 3 months, 6% for six months, 2% for between 6-12 months and 4% for between 12 - 18 months* The most common reason cited by participants for not going to their GP sooner was because they did not think the breast change was serious.* The majority of women in the study also said that they were not worried by the lump or breast change when they discovered it, because of the perception that you have to be over 50 years of age to develop breast cancer or that you had to have a family history.* Another common reason for delaying seeking medical advice was because of other ongoing personal issues such as a divorce or recent pregnancy. One women waited for up to 12 months for this reason.* Only 34% of study participants said they were breast aware.* Once the study participants were seen by a GP, referral times to see breast care consultants varied.* 52% of participants were referred and seen by a breast care specialist immediately.* 26% were seen within one week, 8% were seen within two weeks, 4% were seen within one month, 6% seen within two months and 2% were not seen for up to 6 months but referral times got less as the study progressed.* 31% of study participants also said that they were distressed by the negative effect of media coverage on breast cancer services and this may have been a factor in their delay in seeking medical adviceSpeaking in advance of the launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Joan Kelly, Nursing Services, Irish Cancer Society said "The two main predictors in terms of breast cancer survival are tumour size and whether cancer is found in the axillary nodes under the arm. An early diagnosis of breast cancer increases the probability of a smaller tumour, non-nodal involvement and a healthier prognosis for the patient. Women who have changes in their breast often mistake symptoms as being benign, believe that breast cancer is unlikely in the absence of a positive family history, believe that it is better 'not to know', make a decision to pursue complementary therapies first, are concerned about their significant other's ability to cope or are have competing life demands."Noreen Cushen, Researcher, Department of Nursing and Health Science, Athlone Institute of Technology said "This study shows that a significant proportion of women, when they detect a change in their breast, do not seek medical advice immediately. Women need to build breast awareness into their daily routine rather than promoting a rigid self-examination policy.They need to know their breasts and act immediately when they notice a change. Every breast change has to be investigated. In tandem, education about the risks of breast cancer needs to be conveyed in a clear and consise manner. GPs should also take every opportunity to remind women, when they come into their surgeries, about being breast aware and reporting any breast changes. Stage of diagnosis is a crucial factor in the survival of women from breast cancer."The latest data from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) shows that 2,479 new cases of breast cancer (2,463 cases in females and 16 new cases in males) were diagnosed in 2007. One in 11 women living in Ireland will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. 75% of all breast cancer cases are in women over the age of 50 years and 37% are in women over the age of 65 years.Furthermore NCRI data shows that of 1403 women diagnosed with breast cancer and 6 men diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 (out of a total of 2,479 new cases that year), 29% of them presented with a stage 1 tumour, 46.4% presented with a stage II tumour, 13.9% with a stage 3 tumour and 10.4% with stage IV.Overall only 16-20% of women with Stage IV breast cancer survive for five years or more.