Effectiveness of the first mammography awareness campaign in rural areas where participation in the breast cancer screening program is low: “results of the healty women, healty generations project”

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the effect of a screening mammography awareness campaign in a rural region of Eastern Türkiye, where participation in breast cancer screening programs is low.
METHODS: This health facility and community based study was conducted in Van province between January 1 and November 13, 2023, within the ongoing “Healthy Women, Healthy Generations” project. Women aged 40–69 who had never undergone mammography were included. Participants received education on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, and were invited to free mammography screening. Data were collected via face to face questionnaires. Two view (mediolateral oblique and craniocaudal) digital mammography was performed and interpreted centrally by Ministry of health radiologists.
RESULTS: While the regional participation rate in breast cancer screening was previously % 21.5, the campaign increased this rate to % 93.3. A total of 520 women participated (median age: 48.3 years). Mammography reports were issued within a median of 50 days. Most women (83%) were reported to be in the BI-RADS 2 category, while one woman was found to be in the BI-RADS 5 category and was diagnosed with breast cancer.She underwent breast conserving surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Family history of breast cancer was reported by % 7.3. The median number of births was 5, with median ages of 20 for first and 34 for last birth.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Awareness campaigns significantly improve participation in breast cancer screening. Early detection and successful treatment of one cancer case, among 520 screens support the importance of such interventions. Broader, population-based studies are recommended to assess long term impact.