Study: Clinical breast exams may be option in low-income nations

Regular clinical breast examinations should be considered an alternative to mammograms for women in low- and middle-income countries, according to a new study published February 24 in the BMJ.

Regular breast exams performed by trained female healthcare workers in Mumbai led to earlier diagnosis and a 30% decline in breast cancer mortality in women who were 50 or older. The results showed 25 deaths per 100,000 people a year in those who received exams compared to 35 deaths per 100,000 people per year in women who did get checkups.

The findings are based on 20 years of data from 151,538 women between the ages of 35 and 64 who had no history of breast cancer and were living in Mumbai, India.