ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In 1992, a breast cancer screening program was implemented by the General Directorate of Health of the Autonomous Government of Valencia. This program was aimed to decrease the mortality caused by breast cancer in a 30% on those women submitted to the program. The program was implemented, in 1992 and 1993, and with this purpose five units of breast cancer screening were set up in five Health Areas. This paper presents our preliminary results of this program, from april 1992 to december 1993. METHODS: The program target population consisted on 125,000 healthy women aged from 45 to 65 years. Each woman recruited, a two-view (cranio-caudal and medio-lateral oblique) screen-film mammograms were performed as the primary and only film-screening examination with two years interval. Additionally and according to the criteria of the physician charged to inform the mammography a physical examination could be practised. RESULTS: 52,843 women were invited to participate. The participation rate was of 70.78%. The number of breast cancer detected was of 141, corresponding to a rate of 3.90/1000 women under screening program. CONCLUSIONS: The objectives stated, in relation to participation rate, methods applied and early time of detection, were achieved in this period of assessment.
