WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Noor Hasan Abdulwahab*, Jawad K. Al- Diwan and Saif Hameed Mohammed

ABSTRACT

Background: The effective management of breast cancer risk is essential for devising personalized screening andprevention strategies. A combination of risk factors and mammographic density has been identified as a reliablemethod for assessing breast cancer risk over several years. The aim of study to identifying early warning signs andsymptoms of breast cancer in primary care settings and ensuring patients with suspicious findings are promptlyreferred for further diagnostic evaluation. Additionally, the study seeks to evaluate the clinical outcomes of thesewomen, understanding the effectiveness of screening and referral mechanisms in improving patients prognoses.Method: The study, a retrospective analysis at Al Yarmouk Teaching Hospital's breast clinic, reviewed 6660 filesfrom January to December 2023, identifying 891 referrals from primary health care centers. Referrals, based onclinical breast exams and family history, led to further diagnostic procedures like sonography, mammography andfine needle aspiration due to the lack of such services at primary centers. Results: The study highlights the pivotalrole of age and initial symptoms in breast cancer diagnosis, showing that women over 40 had a higher malignancyrate, whereas younger women often had normal findings. Family physicians' diagnoses, such as pain and masses,predominantly led to benign or normal outcomes after further examination in secondary care. Overall, the dataunderscore the importance of targeted screening and the effectiveness of primary care evaluations in managingbreast health. Conclusion: With many referrals to non-malignant diseases, primary health care (PHC) is beneficialin breast cancer screening, according to the research. Age matters in risk assessment, with greater malignancyrates in women over 40. Family doctors often detect benign or normal findings in first symptoms like pain andmasses, underscoring the need of PHC in identifying prospective breast cancer patients for secondary care followup.

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