Effectiveness of mammographic screening in reducing mortality among Asian women

Abstract

The mortality rate arising from breast cancer has increased within the past few decades across the Asian countries. This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of mammography screening in reducing the mortality rate among breast cancer patients in Asia. The research involved a narrative review of secondary data of studies that addressed the effectiveness mammography screening. An inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied in the study whereby sources published between 2000 and 2015 were reviewed in a comparative analysis of mammography effectiveness among women in Asia. The researcher reviewed studies from Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, China, and Japan. For comparison purposes in the discussion, previous related studies from Europe were reviewed. Studies not conducted in Asia and Europe was excluded. The findings were reviewed across all age groups and were analysed thematically in a case-by-case interpretation based of the research questions. Thematic analysis was used in the analysis of data. The effectiveness of mammography was evaluated using the specificity and sensitivity parameters separately and in combination with other screening techniques such as the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and physical examination. Findings from this study concurred to those of European countries on the effectiveness of mammography. The use of mammography screening considerably reduced breast cancer mortality rate. Although the use of mammography screening displayed substantial success, the findings showed that the use of mammography in combination with other screening techniques yielded far much accurate and better results than when mammography was used alone. For instance, the mortality rate for a combination of mammography and self-evaluation was found to be 32.7% in Asian women. The use of ultrasound and MRI proved to better compliment the use of mammography by enhancing its specificity and sensitivity. Ultrasound alone had a specificity of 89.9%, but its specificity increased to 98.1% when used together with mammography in Asian studies. Likewise, in European studies, a combination of mammography, MRI, and Ultrasound increased the sensitivity to 93%. The findings confirmed a reduction in breast cancer mortality rate as a result of using mammography screening. Therefore, the researcher recommends that mammography screening should be used in combination with other methodologies of screening so as to achieve higher sensitivity and specificity. However, the cost and effectiveness of implementing the combined interventions should be considered. The researcher also recommends education of the public in order to increase awareness and knowledge of breast cancer among Asian women which would increase participation in breast cancer screening modalities. Health related concerns arising from mammography screening practice emerged due to the radiation. The findings indicated that radiations could trigger cancers that were initially absent. Cases of false positive results and overlooked breast cancers among women were found to be on the rise. More research should be conducted to determine the most effective technique that can be combined with mammography screening. The use of mammography screening will greatly reduce the breast cancer mortality rate among the Asian women. Additionally, raising women’s awareness about the importance of screening and early detection of breast tumour is vital in reducing the mortality rate of breast cancer.