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Breast Screening

Women's Health Information Package

	Definition
	About the information resources
	Health promotion resources: information for consumers
	Practical information
	Health beliefs around breast screening
	Specific situations and populations
	Web sites
	Languages other than English
	Some services available in Victoria

Definition

Breast screening is a broad term used for techniques for the early detection of breast cancer. The term is often used interchangeably with mammography, but can also include clinical examination by a health professional and/or breast self-examination.

About the information resources

The resources on Breast Screening contained in this information package were compiled following an extensive search of Women's Health Victoria's (WHV) Clearinghouse Resource Collection database. The resources contain information relating to breast screening, breast lumps and other breast-related problems, as well as suggestions for breast care. This is therefore a resource about the screening process and some common breast complaints but it is not intended as a resource about breast cancer.

Included are details of relevant books, journals, articles, web sites, or pamphlets that have been independently reviewed by a health professional. The emphasis is on the Australian situation and a social model of health and feminist approach provide the framework within which information is provided. Where possible, illustrations of women's experiences are provided.

All of these resources and a range of others (not listed here) covering many topics from both medical and alternative therapy perspectives are available from the WHV Clearinghouse Resource Centre.

A description of how Women's Health Information packages are developed and resources chosen is available here.

Health promotion resources: information for consumers

1. Is BreastScreen for you?
Carlton : BreastScreen Victoria, 2000

Full text is available here.

This site is directed at consumers, and is available in 12 languages. It discusses who is eligible for breast screening, why a woman needs breast screening and how often.

2. How is breast cancer diagnosed?
Carlton : Cancer Council Victoria, 2005

Full text is available here.

This site gives clear explanations of the different techniques used in breast screening. There are also links to information on breast cancer at all stages.

3. Breast health
Carlton : Cancer Council Victoria, 2005

Full text is available here.

A consumer-focused site produced by the Cancer Council, there is information on breast awareness, how to identify changes, and what to expect during mammography. A helpful health promotion tool for service providers.

4. Breast conditions other than breast cancer
Melbourne : Better Health Channel, 2005

Full text available here.

Directed at consumers, this site is a useful health promotion resource for service providers to explain the "other kind of lumps" to women and their families.

Practical information

5. Screening and early detection
Camperdown NSW : National Breast Cancer Centre, 2004

Full text available here.

Aimed at health providers, this resource discusses the evidence for breast awareness, clinical breast examination and mammography in detecting cancer. The page also has links to practice guidelines for breast imaging and investigating new breast symptoms.

6. Screening for breast cancer
Elmore, JG; Armstrong, K; Lehman, CD & Fletcher, SW. JAMA, 2005; 293(10):2-4

A comprehensive review of research literature on breast screening. Techniques discussed include mammography, clinical and self breast examination, MRI and ultrasound. The benefits and limitations of each method are outlined.

7. BreastScreen assessment procedures
Carlton : BreastScreen Victoria, 2005

Full text available here.

This site gives a clear, technical outline of how BreastScreen conducts assessment of women, according to their health profile. The information is concise, and can be used to advise women about the procedures they may encounter.

Health beliefs around breast screening

8. Myths about cancer might interfere with screening decisions
McGarvey, EL & Brenin, DR. The Lancet, 2005; 366(9487):700-702

An excellent article to dispel myths and enable informed consent for clinicians counselling women about breast screening.

9. Women's attitudes to and practices of breast self examination
Battersby, G& Nelson, M. Australian Family Physician, 2004; 33(8):661-662

This article discusses factors that affect women's motivation in examining their breasts and presenting for screening. Confidence, health beliefs and perceived susceptibility are covered. The article is useful for clinicians to promote breast screening more effectively.

10. Clinical practice guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults with cancer
Canberra : National Health and Medical Research Council, 2003

Full text available here (PDF 838KB)

Psychosocial factors can act as barriers to health prevention behaviours. This comprehensive resource for clinicians considers how this fear can affect a person's psychological, financial and physical health and can be a barrier to participating in breast screening programs. It takes into account the complex needs of women from diverse cultural backgrounds, rural women and non-heterosexual women in screening, diagnosis and treatment.

Specific situations and populations

11. Clinical practice guidelines for the management and support of younger women with breast cancer
Canberra : National Health and Medical Research Council, 2003

Full text available here (PDF 417KB)

This document discusses the breast screening issues specific to younger women: fears and family history, technical difficulties in screening, and psychosocial effects during and after screening. It also deals with issues affecting women from rural and CALD backgrounds.

12. Breast x-ray screening for women with implants
Carlton : BreastScreen Victoria, 2003

Full text available here.

This site is directed at consumers, but is a useful reference point for clinicians. It answers common questions of how implants can affect screening, and which methods are most appropriate.

13. Breast for me: breast health education for women with disabilities
Carlton : BreastScreen Victoria, 2005

Full text available here.

BreastScreen Victoria runs a peer education program for women with disabilities. It is an excellent referral point for health providers.

14. Tracking back to better health: Koori women's breast health
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service : Victoria, 2004

Full text available here (PDF 130kb)

As a health promotion resource, this leaflet is directed at Koori women, and explains breast changes and the need for screening.

15. Impact of use of hormone replacement therapy on false positive recall in the NHS breast screening programme: Results from the million women study
Banks, E; Reeves, G; Beral, V; Bull, D; Crossley, B; Simmonds, M; Hilton, E; Bailey, S; Barrett, N; Briers, P; English, R; Jackson, A; Kutt, E; Lavelle, J; Rockall, L; Wallis, M.G; Wilson, . & Patnick, J. British Medical Journal, 2004; 328(7451):1291-1292

Full text available here.

Results of study indicate that current and recent users of HRT are more likely to have a false positive result during screening. Clinicians can use this information when counselling women. The authors also comment that women who have had a false positive previously may refuse subsequent screening, which is an important psychosocial barrier to address.

Web sites

16. BreastScreen Victoria

http://www.breastscreen.org.au/

This site is an excellent health promotion referral tool. It has comprehensive information about breast health and services offered by BreastScreen. Information is presented in numerous languages, and the site has links to other quality sources of information on breast care.

17. BreastHealth

http://www.breasthealth.com.au/

As part of the National Breast Cancer Centre, BreastHealth is an excellent health promotion resource for service providers. It has information on breast awareness, benign breast disorders, and common breast changes. It also discusses treatment options, and has fact sheets in numerous languages.

Languages other than English

If you are looking for information on a variety of health topics in languages other than English try searching:

• Health Translations Directory
• NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service

Some services available in Victoria

BreastScreen

Provides free screening throughout Australia. To make an appointment Phone: 13 20 50

Resources reviewed December 2005

For details on how to locate any of this information or to confidentially discuss any of this information, contact your local Women’s Health Service or the RWH Women's Health Information Centre phone line, Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on (03) 9344 2007; Country Callers: 1800 442 007; or email.

Health professionals and other service providers wishing to access the services of the WHV Clearinghouse contact us by phone: (03) 9662 3755, fax: (03) 9663 7955; or email.

Other resource information on various health topics can be accessed via the Clearinghouse Resource Collection database. Online access is available here.

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• if you have read any of the books or pamphlets listed
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OR

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