BREAST SELF EXAMINATION

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this systemic review is to explore the literature on breast self examination and on breast awareness. Objectives: To evaluate the importance of breast awareness. (1) To prove breast awareness is a an effective strategy for health promotion. (2) To clarify the difference between breast awareness and breast self examination. (3) To critique self breast examination as an effective method for screening breast cancers. Methodology: To review the literature supporting breast self examination and breast awareness Medline, CINAHL, Pubmed, Science Direct and Cochrane Databases were used. The key words “breast awareness”, “difference” and “breast self examination” were used in conjunction with “breast cancer”, “breast screening” and “health promotion” to search the recent articles of last 5 years from 2005 to 2010. Conclusions: It was concluded through the literature support that breast self-examination does not reduce breast cancer mortality whereas; breast awareness provides women with some knowledge about the breasts to fight breast disease and to reduce morbidity but not to reduce the mortality.