Breast Self Examination Practice and Awareness about Breast Cancer

• Main Author: Rizwana Anjum
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Rawalpindi Medical University 2017-09-01
• Series: Journal of Rawalpindi Medical College
• Subjects: Breast cance; breast self examination; screening programs,; awareness.
• Online Access: https://www.journalrmc.com/index.php/JRMC/article/view/44
• ISSN: 1683-3562; 1683-3570

To assess females’ awareness about breast cancer and self-reported practice of breast self-examination. Methods: In this population-based cross sectional study data was collected via a structured questionnaire containing questions on demographic status, family history of breast cancer, subjective knowledge about breast cancer covering its symptoms, the screening methods and practice of breast self-examination (BSE). Results: A total of 1500 women were interviewed. The mean age of respondents was 36 + 16.1 years. Majority (76.1%) were married. In 90.9% there was no family history of carcinoma breast. Familiarity about breast cancer was found in 15.1%. Only a few (3.2%) knew about breast cancer screening programs and most indicated that electronic media (television 8.3% and radio 4.9%) were their source of information. Only 1.9% of women said that they were conducting occasional breast self-examination. The main reason for women not doing breast self-examination was due to the fact that they did not know how to do it (97.5%). Conclusion: Women’s knowledge about breast cancer warning signs and effective screening methods i.e. breast self examination, and mammography were insufficient