Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/884700
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2017 6 News DENISE GRECH ALMOST one in two Maltese women are still shying away from the national health system's free breast cancer screening pro- gramme. A staggering 41% of Maltese women said they had not made use of the free breast cancer screening programme, according to a new study by oncologist Dr Danika Marmara. Perceived barriers such as the fear of a negative outcome, and even embarrassment were found to inhibit women from attending the screening programme. Since its establishment in 2009, the Maltese Breast Screening Pro- gramme routinely invites women to a free-of-charge breast screen- ing, expanding its cohort in its second screening round to include women aged 61-66 years. However, 81% of women inter- viewed said they had sufficient knowledge of the symptoms of breast cancer, the study found. But attendance of breast screen- ings remains at an all-time low, with up to 40% of women invited in 2013 refusing to take up the of- fer. The 2013 study, presented to the House of Representatives, re- vealed that the number of women attending free breast screening appointments is slowly on the rise. "Women are discouraged form attending the government-fund- ed programmes out of fear that the tests would reveal breast cancer… Moreover, there is a strong perception amongst Mal- tese that sees doctors and health treatments as a last resort rather than a means of prevention," Joe Psaila, senior advisor of the breast-screening programme had said. 200 women out of the 27,635 at- tendees were found to be suffering from breast cancer. The study, which adopted the Health Belief Model, found that perceived susceptibility to breast cancer and fear of negative out- come play an important role in the attendance of women at breast screening appointments. "Maltese women who have a lack of awareness regarding screening recommendations, guidelines and related risk factors are more likely not to attend and this may prove difficult for women to perceive their risk." Non-attendees were unsure of breast screening practices and had "higher emotional barriers." Interventions to increase breast cancer screening uptake in Malta need to address these fears, the study concluded. "In order for a woman to attend for her breast screening appoint- ment, she must perceive the actu- al threat of breast cancer, believe that cancer can be avoided by the screening, and that she is capable of accessing the unit," Marmara said. 8.7% of women in the study re- ported that transport issues and accessibility issues, such as being able to take leave from work, hin- dered their attendance. Women with a lower family in- come were also found to be less likely to attend free screenings, the study found. Nearly 70% of women in this study reported that they were not encouraged by their GP to attend to breast screening. The findings of this study have been adopted into this year's Pink October. Driven by the call 'Fac- ing your Fears', the annual cam- paign is hosting various activi- ties and events raising donations towards medical equipment and mammogram machines. Women continue to shirk free cancer screenings, new study finds BREAST CANCER IDENTITY SCORES (%) Disagree/ Undecided Agree/ Strongly Strongly Disagree Agree The presence of a lump or thickening in the breast 1.2 6.4 92.3 Nipple discharge 0.7 13.4 85.9 Sudden nipple retraction 0.5 15.8 83.7 Change in shape of the nipple 0.5 7.2 92.3 Breast swelling, dimpling, redness or soreness of the skin 0.7 16.3 82.9 Skin changes of the breast 0.7 16.6 82.7 A sudden change in breast size 1.2 12.9 85.9 Aching breasts 9.9 28.2 61.9 CAUSES OF BREAST CANCER SCORES (%) Disagree/ Undecided Agree/ Strongly Strongly Disagree Agree Stress or worry 37.6 23.5 38.9 Your mental attitude 64.9 23.3 11.8 Family problems or worries 42.3 20.3 37.4 Overwork 69.6 14.6 15.8 Your emotional state 63.6 18.8 17.6 Your personality 64.9 23.3 11.8 Hereditary - it runs in the family 1.2 2.5 96.3 Diet or eating habits 30.0 15.1 55.0 Poor medical care in the past 24.3 22.3 53.4 Your own behaviour 43.1 42.6 14.3 Ageing 35.1 15.6 49.3 Smoking 11.6 9.7 78.7 Alcohol 19.8 14.9 65.3 A germ or virus 30.7 30.7 38.6 Pollution in the environment 16.1 12.1 71.8