Breast cancer represents the most prevalent cancer among women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). To enhance early detection efforts, a detailed analysis was conducted on the data collected from the Saudi National Breast Cancer Early Detection Program
The research focused on characterizing the participants and identifying predictors of positive mammography findings. A total of 8,348 Saudi women aged 30 and older who participated in the program between May 2013 and July 2016 were included. All participants underwent both screening mammography and clinical breast examination. The median age of participants was 50 years. The majority of women were either self-referred (62.4%) or referred by health educators (30.9%).
The national program demonstrated a robust screening performance, achieving a breast cancer detection rate of 7.4 per 1,000 screened women, with 60 cases confirmed. This rate surpasses the established international benchmark of 4.7 per 1,000, which may be attributed to a high diagnosis rate during initial screenings.
Multivariable analysis of the data yielded a critical insight: an abnormal Clinical Breast Examination result was the sole independent predictor significantly associated with a positive mammogram finding. This underscores the essential role of clinical exams, beyond mammography, in the screening process.
In terms of reproductive history, women diagnosed with breast cancer showed a statistically significant higher rate of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use (78.3%) compared to those without cancer (64.2%), and their duration of use was also longer (median 84 months vs. 60 months).
Despite the public health relevance of obesity, the study found no independent association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and breast cancer risk. The researchers indicate that this could possibly due to the relatively younger median age of the cohort or the limited number of cancer cases.
Data concerning predictors of the positive outcomes of the mammogram in the Arab population are scarce and this large population-based study contributes to a further understanding of the literature. However, due to the small number of patients diagnosed with cancer, researchers recommend conducting larger studies to more thoroughly explore the predictors and outcomes.
The researchers conclude that performing a clinical breast exam and providing counseling regarding the risk of contraceptives should be part of the standard of care. They recommend that healthcare professionals must continue to remind and inform women of the risk factors of breast cancer in a culturally sensitive manner, and cancer screening practices must be upheld.
Reference Source
Al Tahan, F., Alomary, S. A., Tamim, H., Alkaiyat, M., Nassri, H., Alkattan, K., & Jazieh, A. R. (2025). Characteristics of Participants and Findings of the National Breast Cancer Early Detection Program in Saudi Arabia. Cancers, 17(21), 3403.
