THE DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST-CANCER - EXPERIENCES FROM THE COMMUNITY OF KUNGSBACKA, SWEDEN

In Kungsbacka, Sweden, with about 48 000 inhabitants, the records of all subjects who had been diagnosed to have breast cancer during a 3-year period were studied. The incidence was 41 per 1 00 000 inhabitants per year. A palpable mass in the breasts was the most common initial sign (77%). Most patients first visited a physician working within the primary health care system. In 94% of the patients a palpable mass in their breasts had been found by the physician. In 16% of the cases a better or a more regular breast self-examination could have reduced the patients' delay. Mean doctor's delay was approximately five weeks. Subjects with no spread to the axillary lymph nodes had a favorable prognosis with a 5-year mortality rate of 12% during the follow-up study period as compared with patients who had distant metastases and/or axillary node involvement, in whom a mortality rate of 67% was observed during the same study period.