In the absence of scientifically derived data the risk factors considered in CanScan are based on established medical opinion.

The recommendations should be viewed taking into account the following:

The recommendations are based on your answers to the questions.

If, for example, a lump is found then the woman is categorized to be in the high risk group even though, it is known that 80% of lumps may be benign.

However, separating out benign from malignant lumps can only be carried out by the doctor. Hence the woman is alerted to see the doctor. On the other hand, if a woman is not able to answer correctly, for example, the question about nipple oozing, she will then be categorized in risk group. Thus, the possibility of false positive and false negative recommendations may arise.

This means that the woman should neither be unduly worried if she seems to be in high risk group nor totally complacent if she is in low risk group.

The purpose of CanScan is in making the woman aware so that she may seek medical opinion in time. Field trials covering thousands of women showed that Can-Scan did very effectively meet the need for awareness of breast cancer and breast health education. Also an experimental study covering 591 women showed that Can-Scan has sufficiently high degree of sensitivity and specificity to persuade the Indian Cancer Association to install it in all its regional cancer centres.

CanScan is an aid to the patient and not a substitute for medical advice or consultation.