Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Egyptian females. Most patients present at a late stage with subsequent poor outcomes. Aim: To study the awareness of breast cancer, its risk factors and screening. To investigate the impact of caring for a family member with breast cancer on the awareness and future attitudes of caregivers. Methods: The study included 704 females divided into two groups. A non-caregivers group including 248 participants representing the general population and a caregivers group including 456 family caregivers of breast cancer patients. We used a questionnaire comprised of 45 questions assessing four domains: individual risk factors, awareness of risk factors, awareness of screening, and the practice of and barriers to screening. Those who answered more than 50% of the questions correctly were considered to have good knowledge. Results: Sixty-nine percent of participants showed poor knowledge of risk factors. In the screening awareness domain, only 44% of participants scored >50% indicating defective knowledge. Caregivers attained significantly higher scores in all domains (p < 0.001). Yet, the overall assessment showed poor knowledge in both groups. Only 3% of non-caregivers and 19% of caregivers performed mammography (p < 0.001); while 11% and 38%, respectively, underwent breast self-examination (p < 0.001). Higher education level was associated with significantly better knowledge (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Breast cancer knowledge among Egyptian females is deficient. The level of education and caring for a breast cancer patient significantly affect the level of knowledge and attitude towards screening. There is a need to implement a comprehensive national awareness and screening programme.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the first cause of cancer death among them 1
Multiple factors contribute to the lower survival outcomes and it is believed most patients are being diagnosed at late stages 5
In a previous study we demonstrated that Egyptian women take on average 4.4 months (131 days) from the time they develop a breast symptom until presentation
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women and the first cause of cancer death among them 1. In Egypt, it constitutes 33% of female cancer cases and more than 22,000 new cases diagnosed each year 2. Aim: To study the awareness of breast cancer, its risk factors and screening. We used a questionnaire comprised of 45 questions assessing four domains: individual risk factors, awareness of risk factors, awareness of screening, and the practice of and barriers to screening Those who answered more than 50% of the questions correctly were considered to have good knowledge. In the screening awareness domain, only 44% of participants scored >50% indicating defective knowledge. Conclusions: Breast cancer knowledge among Egyptian females is deficient. The level of education and caring for a breast cancer patient significantly affect the level of knowledge and attitude towards screening. There is a need to implement a comprehensive national awareness and screening programme
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