Breast cancer: early detection programmes are beneficial
17 October 2024 | Comment(s) |
Martin Kamber
Are you a woman aged between 50 and 69 living in French-speaking Switzerland? If so, you will be invited to a breast cancer screening examination once a year. In some German-speaking cantons, there is no such screening programme: you need a specific medical prescription.
A new study has shown that tumours diagnosed as part of screening programmes are smaller on average than those detected following a medical prescription.
Switzerland, a small laboratory for breast-cancer screening
Every year, around 6,500 women in Switzerland are diagnosed with breast cancer. Mammography, i.e. an X-ray examination of the breasts, is a screening tool. In most cantons, women aged between 50 and 69 are invited to undergo this examination once a year. But not in all cantons, far from it! In Zurich, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Uri, as well as in a number of other cantons, mammograms are only carried out when prescribed by family doctors or gynaecologists. Such a difference in provision within a high-quality health system that is accessible to all is unique in the world and has provided an opportunity for researchers to take a close look at the relevance of screening programmes.
A surprising result for screening programmes
An interdisciplinary research group from the Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna and Lucerne Cantonal Hospital examined a total of 21,518 cases of breast cancer between 2014 and 2020. 19,218 cases came from cantons with screening programmes, compared with 2,282 cases in central Switzerland, where so-called "opportunistic" screening is carried out on a doctor's prescription.
The result: during so-called "opportunistic" screening of women aged between 50 and 69, large tumours were diagnosed more often. At the same time, lymph node involvement was more pronounced.
Andreas Gutzeit, radiologist at the Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna and first author of the study, said: "In this study, we were able to find moderate differences that demonstrate the benefits of screening mammography with a very high degree of statistical certainty". As the total number of mammograms performed in Switzerland is very high, the differences can be interpreted as "a surprising and very important result for screening programmes".
How can we improve the chances of recovery and reduce costs?
The earlier a tumour is diagnosed, the greater the chances of recovery and the more treatment options there are. In many cases, it is possible to perform a breast-conserving operation, removing only part of the axillary lymph nodes.
On the other hand, if the tumour remains undetected for a long time, chemotherapy becomes unavoidable and the duration of antihormonal treatment increases. Breast reconstruction has also become more expensive, which not only increasingly reduces patients' quality of life, but also drives up costs.
Our advice on preventing breast cancer
Early detection is therefore essential, particularly for the treatment of breast cancer. There are a number of ways in which women can reduce their risk of breast cancer:
- If there is a screening programme in your canton, take part in it. If not, talk to your gynaecologist about how often you should have your breasts examined.
- Even if you're under 50, an early detection examination can be useful, particularly if you have a family history of breast cancer. Once again, ask your gynaecologist for advice on how often you should have a check-up.
- If possible, breast-feed your child.
- Examine your breasts on your own by palpating them to quickly detect any changes. But be careful: self-examination does not replace a medical examination!
- Lead a healthy lifestyle, drink little alcohol and don't smoke. A healthy lifestyle reduces your risk of developing breast cancer.
Groupe Mutuel takes action against breast cancer
Groupe Mutuel's PrimaFlex model is the first basic insurance in Switzerland to focus on prevention. This means, for example, that certain breast cancer screening examinations are reimbursed without deductible, regardless of age or place of residence. The use of such an examination is based on the recommendation of our telemedicine partner and on the existence of an above-average risk of breast cancer. Groupe Mutuel also supports innovative approaches in the field of FemTech. For example, the Tech4Eva start-up acceleration programme, in collaboration with the EPFL Innovation Park, has led to the creation of Palpa, a Chilean start-up dedicated to early detection by self-palpation, an AI-based programme that enables better diagnosis of breast cancer after a mammogram, and a new treatment table that makes radiotherapy more effective and improves patients' well-being.
