Breast Cancer Screening Practices Research Articles

Abstract P1-07-30: Predictive factors of sentinel lymph node biopsy invasion in extended ductal carcinoma in situ treated by radical mastectomy

Abstract Introduction: The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) increased with the practice of organized breast cancer screening to reach 14 % in France in 2010. The incidence of positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) ranged from 0 to 16.7 %. The main hypothesis would be the presence of an invasive contingent on the definitive analyze not identified preoperatively. The objective was to identify predictive factors of SLNB positivity in the management of extended DCIS treated by radical mastectomy. Method: This study was retrospective, longitudinal, descriptive conducted at the Cancer Institute of Lorraine from January 2000 to July 2015. All patients whose management consisted of a radical mastectomy for an extended DCIS, associated with a sentinel lymph node procedure were included. Results: 161 patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 56 years; 15 had a clinical nodule. The diagnosis was made in 63.3 % with macrobiopsies. Preoperatively, 16 patients (9.9 %) had DCIS associated with microinvasion (DCIS-MI) and the others were pure DCIS. An average of 3.9 ± 2.7 SLNB were sampled. Twelve patients (7.4 %) had a SLNB invasion. Eleven of them had axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) of which only 1 was positive. The final histological analysis found 104 pure DCIS (64.6 %), 23 DCIS-MI (14.3 %) and 34 occult invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) (21.1 %). Mean follow-up was 41.1 months. There were 2 recurrences and 2 deaths. N°Final histologyPreoperative histologyDCIS size (mm)PalpabilitySLNB typeSLNB positivityALND positivity1DCISDCIS60NoMacrometastase542DCISDCIS50NoMicrometastase203DCISDCIS10NoIsolated Tumor Cells1-4DCIS-MIDCIS90YesIsolated Tumor Cells105DCIS-MIDCIS-MI75YesIsolated Tumor Cells106IDCDCIS110YesMicrometastase107IDCDCIS70NoIsolated Tumor Cells108IDCDCIS80YesMicrometastase109IDCDCIS-MI100NoMicrometastase1010IDCDCIS-MI50NoMicrometastase1011IDCDCIS-MI60NoMicrometastase1012IDCDCIS-MI40YesMacrometastase10 Predictive factors were size of palpated mass (mean: 46 mm, p = 0.04) and microinvasion on biopsy (p = 0.02). Positivity of the SLNB was an overstaging risk factor on the final histology (p < 0.001). Postoperative histological results were significantly different from preoperative (p = 0.001) with poor concordance (kappa = 0.15). Discussion: After SLNB, the rate of secondary lymphedema in the literature was 5%. Our study included 7.4 % (12 cases) of axillary lesions, majority of which were unique micrometastases or isolated tumor cells (ITC). All predictive factors were identified in literature. In our study, mean size of palpated mass was 46 mm whereas it was 30 mm in literature. Of the 9.9 % of DCIS-MI, 4 patients had a positive SLNB. In cases of pure DCIS, the percentage of positive SLNB was reduced to 5.5 %. The rate of occult invasive ductal carcinoma was 21,1%, similarly like in literature where rate was in mean 23%. Conclusion: The low rate of SLNB invasion in pure DCIS suggests that ALND is carried out in the presence of predictive factors. New techniques for identification of SLNB could report axillary staging after obtaining the definitive histologic results. Citation Format: Hotton J, Salleron J, Rauch P, Buhler J, Leufflen L, Ameloot S, Marchal F. Predictive factors of sentinel lymph node biopsy invasion in extended ductal carcinoma in situ treated by radical mastectomy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-30.

Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of routine breast cancer screening practices among migrant‐Australian women

Objective:To evaluate breast cancer screening (BCS) practice and explore the relationship between sociodemographic factors and breast awareness (BA), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography in migrant‐Australian women. Method:Secondary analysis was performed on the pooled sample (n=1,744) from five cross‐sectional studies of BCS rates among immigrant‐Australian women, and the associated sociodemographic factors. Results:Only 19% of women participated in routine BA, 27.4% of women in the target group of >40 year presented for an annual CBE, and 60.6% of women in the target group of 50–74 years received a biennial mammogram. Associated sociodemographic factors differed by modality except for length of Australian residency. In multivariable analysis, age, length of Australian residency, marital status, and employment status accounted for more than 50% of the variance in regular BA and CBE. Conclusion:These findings indicate suboptimal BCS rates persist among migrant‐Australian women, and suggest the importance of certain sociodemographic factors in BCS practice. Implications for public health:Further education is required for BA and CBE practice in immigrant‐Australian women, especially for those who have resided in Australia less than 12 years without a partner.

Comparative Study on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Self Breast Examination and Breast Cancer Screening Between First and Second Class Women of Kitwe District

Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in both developing and developed countries. One major contributor to high morbidity is late diagnosis which is due to lack of knowledge of the risk factors, causes, early signs and symptoms and simple screening tools like Self Breast Examination (SBE) and Clinical Breast Examination (CBE). The aim of this study was to compare level of knowledge of BC, CBE and SBE as well as attitude and practice towards CBE and SBE between women in rural and urban areas. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 women who were residents of Parklands (Urban area) and Kawama (Rural area). Equal numbers of women from each area were recruited into the study. All the 300 questionnaires were properly filled and returned. Data was entered and analysed in SPSS version 20.0 software. The majority of participants (34.3%) were between the age of 36 and 45 years and resided in Parklands (59.2%). All the participants (100%) had heard about CBE but only 87.3% of these respondents were able to explain correctly what it is (53.7% urban and 42.7% rural). Of all the respondents, 57.7% had heard about Self Breast Examination before the day of the interview. The most common source of information of CBE was ‘friends’ (77%). Furthermore, 49.7% of the subjects had good knowledge about BC and CBE, while 28% had poor knowledge. Of all the women, 45% had good knowledge about BSE while 53.7% had poor knowledge. In addition, 96.3% of the respondents showed good attitude toward CBE and 3.7% showed poor attitude. Level of education showed significant relationship with Practice of CBE (P – value: 0.00), Practice of SBE (P- Value: 0.00), level of knowledge of CBE (P – value: 0.00) and level of knowledge of SBE (P – Value: 0.00). Lastly, attitude towards CBE did not seem to show any significant relationship with practice of CBE (P – Value: 0.522). The findings of the study showed that most of rural than urban women had poor knowledge about BC, CBE and SBE. Educational programs on breast cancer and SBE should be conducted in print and electronic media using the local languages to reach out to the women in rural areas.

A Breast Cancer Education Program for D/deaf Women.

Barriers to obtaining breast cancer prevention knowledge and breast cancer screening have been noted among D/deaf women. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is described that tested a culturally and linguistically tailored breast cancer education program conducted among a racially/ethnically diverse sample of 209 D/deaf women age 40 years or older. The study focused on D/deaf women with no more than a secondary education, a population at relatively high risk for incomplete breast health knowledge and services. This population's inadequate breast cancer knowledge and screening practices and the value of the education program were confirmed. Knowledge increased from -baseline to 12-month follow-up in the intervention group, and in some instances the control group; increased intention to get a mammogram was observed in the intervention group. Possible reasons for the few significant intervention/control group differences at 12 months were examined. Materials from the RCT are available online.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Breast Cancer amongst Lebanese Females in Beirut

Objectives:Regular screening for breast cancer is associated with better survival, but compliance with guidelines depends on good knowledge and attitudes. This study aimed to assess the level of breast cancer knowledge, attitudes and screening practices in Lebanese females, and identify their socio-demographic determinants as well as barriers to mammography use.Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted with 371 Lebanese females residing in Beirut aged 18-65 with no history of breast cancer. The questionnaire applied was adapted from Stager and Champion. The overall knowledge score was determined with sections on general knowledge, curability, symptoms, and screening; the overall attitude score concerned attitudes towards breast cancer, screening, and barriers; and the overall practices score was for breast self examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. Bivariate and multivariate analyses of socioeconomic determinants were performed for each score.Results:The mean knowledge score was 55.5±17.1% and that for attitudes was 71.9±8.3%. For self-examination, mammography and clinical examination practices, individual means were 45.7±42.3%, 77.9±36.5% and 29.1±45.5%, respectively. Knowledge, attitudes and practices correlated positively with each other (p<0.0001). The highest average was the knowledge of symptoms (72.8±24.7%), and the lowest that of curability (49.6±25.7%). Most frequent barriers to mammography were fear of learning bad news, pain, costs, and staff unpleasantness. Higher education was associated with better knowledge (p=0.002) and smoking with lower levels (p=0.003). Older age (p=0.002), higher education (p=0.02), and taking exercise (p=0.02) were associated with better attitudes. Higher education (p=0.02) and having children (p=0.003) were associated with better practices.Conclusion:More emphasis should be placed on educating females on the curability of breast cancer and specific targeting of the barriers identified.

Awareness of Breast Cancer and Its Screening among Indonesian Women

Introduction Breast cancer has a high morbidity and mortality rate worldwide. However, most developing countries with resource constrained setting, like Indonesia, encounter several difficulties to implement mass screening for breast cancer. Aim To investigate knowledge, barriers, and behaviours of women regarding breast cancer screening among rural and urban Indonesian women. Materials and Methods This cross-divtional study was conducted among 864 Indonesian women aged ≥18 years. A self-administered questionnaire using a validated instrument was administered from March to May 2016. The ordered logistic regression model analysis was performed to further evaluate five domains of awareness regarding breast cancer screening and its determinants. A p-value under 0.05 was considered significant. Results Overall, 864 women participated in this study (response rate of 98.28%). The mean age of women was 30.01±11.01 years. Ordinal logistics regression analysis showed that urban women demonstrated better knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer, while they had poorer behaviours for the breast cancer screening method. A higher level of education (relative to no formal education) was associated with better behaviours for the breast cancer screening method, whereas being married and women living in East Nusa Tenggara were significantly related to barriers for breast cancer screening. Conclusion Urban Indonesian women had poor breast cancer screening practice, whereas they were highly educated. Participant’s characteristics like marital status and locality were found as barriers to breast cancer screening. It is likely to provide valuable insight among women in general for breast cancer screening behaviours, which in turn, will improve targeted breast health promotion.

Linking physician attitudes to their breast cancer screening practices: A survey of US primary care providers and gynecologists

Despite changes to breast cancer screening guidelines intended to decrease screening in younger and older women, mammography rates remain high. We investigated physician attitudes towards screening younger and older women. Surveys were mailed to US primary care providers and gynecologists between May and September 2016 (871/1665, 52.3% adjusted response rate). We assessed physician (1) attitudes towards screening younger (45–49years) and older (75+ years) women and (2) recommendations for routine mammography. We used exploratory factor analysis to identify underlying themes among physician attitudes and created measures standardized to a 5-point scale. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we examined associations between physician attitudes and screening recommendations. Attitudes identified with factor analysis included: potential regret, expectations, and discordant guidelines (referred to as potential regret), patient-related hazards due to screening, physician limitations and uncertainty, and concerns about rationing care. Gynecologists had higher levels of potential regret compared to internists. In adjusted analyses, physicians with increasing potential regret (1-point increment on 5-point scale) had higher odds of recommending mammography to younger (OR 8.68; 95% CI 5.25–14.36) and older women (OR 4.62; 95% CI 3.50–6.11). Increasing concern for patient-related hazards was associated with decreased odds of recommending screening to older women (OR 0.68; 95% CI 0.56–0.83). Physicians were more motivated by potential regret in recommending screening for younger and older women than by concerns for patient-related hazards in screening. Addressing physicians' most salient concerns, such as fear of missing cancer diagnoses and malpractice, may present an important opportunity to improving delivery of guideline-concordant cancer screening.

Cervical and breast cancer screening participation and utilisation of maternal health services: a cross-sectional study among immigrant women in Southern Italy

ObjectivesWomen make up approximately half of the world’s one billion migrants. Immigrant women tend to be one of the most vulnerable population groups with respect to healthcare. Cancer screening (CS)...

Validation of the Korean Version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire

Korean immigrant women have been consistently reported as having low participation in breast cancer screening practices. A valid and reliable instrument to explore factors that affect their cancer screening behaviors is essential. The aim of this study was to report the psychometric properties of the Korean version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ). A convenience sample of 249 Korean Australian women was recruited through a number of Korean community organizations in Sydney. Exploratory factor analysis supports a similar fit for the original 3-factor structure of our data set. A significant association was found between the attitudes of these women toward general health checkups and the frequency of their performance of the breast awareness practices and having mammograms. Furthermore, it was found that knowledge and perceptions about the breast cancer scales were significantly associated with education level and that barriers to mammographic screening were much less evident among women who engaged in the 3 screening practices. The results indicated that the Korean version of the BCSBQ had satisfactory validity and internal consistency. The Cronbach's α of the 3 subscales ranged between .80 and .88. The Korean version of the BCSBQ was confirmed to be a culturally appropriate, valid, and reliable instrument for assessing the beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes to breast cancer and breast cancer screening practices among women of Korean background living in Australia. The Korean version of the BCBSQ can provide nurses with insights into the development of culturally sensitive breast health education programs.

Choosing Wisely in Cancer Control across Canada—A Set of Baseline Indicators

Value-based care, which balances high-quality care with the most efficient use of resources, has been considered the next frontier in cancer care and a means to maintain health system sustainability. Created to promote value-based care, Choosing Wisely Canada-modelled after Choosing Wisely in the United States-is a national clinician-driven campaign to identify unnecessary or harmful services that are frequently used in Canada. As part of the campaign, national medical societies have developed recommendations for tests and treatments that clinicians and patients should question. Here, we present baseline indicator findings about current practice patterns associated with 7 cancer-related recommendations from Choosing Wisely Canada and about the effects of those practices on patients and the health care system. Indicator findings point to substantial variations in cancer system performance between Canadian jurisdictions, most notably for breast cancer screening practices, treatment practices for men with low-risk localized prostate cancer, and radiation therapy practices for early-stage breast cancer and bone metastases. Extrapolating indicator findings to the entire country, it was estimated that 740,000 breast and cervical cancer screening tests were performed outside of the recommended age ranges, and within 1 year of diagnosis, 17,000 patients received treatments that could be low-value. A 15% reduction in the use of the 7 screening and treatment practices examined could lead to multiple benefits for patients and the health care system: 9000 false-positive results and 3000 treatments and related side effects could be avoided, and 4500 hours of linear accelerator capacity could be freed up each year. Interjurisdictional performance variations suggest potential differences in clinical practice patterns in the planning and delivery of cancer control services, and in some cases, in disease management outcomes. Although the cancer screening and treatment practices described might be unnecessary for some patients, it is important to realize that they could, in fact, be necessary for other patients. Further research into appropriate rates of use could help to determine how much cancer care represents overuse of practices that are not supported by evidence or underuse of practices that are supported by evidence.

Minnesota healthcare providers’ breast cancer screening practices at the extremes of age.

e13037 Background: Breast cancer screening guidelines disagree on the age to initiate and discontinue screening. We sought to determine the age at which Minnesota providers initiate and discontinue breast cancer screening. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey of Minnesota primary care providers was conducted in 2016. The survey queried providers’ breast screening practices for average-risk women. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics and comparisons by professional characteristics were conducted using Chi-squared tests. Results: There were 805 respondents (8% of 10,392 invitees), of which 456 (56.7%) provided primary care to women and were included in the analysis. 316 (72%) were women, 193 (44%) were physicians, 50 (11%) were physician assistants (PAs), and 197 (45%) were advanced practice nurses (APNs). 85% practiced in a community setting. 38% had practiced &gt; 20 years, and 27% had practiced &lt; 10 years. Among respondents, 67%, 77% and 72% recommended screening mammography for women age 40-44, 45-49 and 70+ years, respectively. Compared to male providers, female providers were more likely to screen women age 40-44 years (73% vs. 49%; p &lt; 0.0001) and 45-49 years (81% vs. 66%; p = 0.002), but there was no difference by gender for patients age 70+ years (72% vs. 74%; p = 0.89). Respondents reporting specialized interest in women’s health were more likely to screen women age 40-44 years (73% vs. 61%; p = 0.006), 45-49 years (83% vs 72%; p = 0.007) and older than age 70 years (77% vs. 69%; p = 0.04). Physicians were less likely to screen women age 40-44 and 45-49 years (57% and 71%, respectively; p = 0.001) than PAs (72%, 78%) and APNs (74%, 83%), but APNs were less likely to screen women age 70+ years (65% vs. physicians 79% vs. PAs 76%; p = 0.006). Number of years in practice was not associated with a difference in age at initiation of screening, however, increasing number of years in practice was associated with screening women age 70+ years (p = 0.02). Conclusions: Although breast cancer screening practices for average risk women vary by healthcare provider characteristics, a majority of Minnesota primary care providers initiate breast cancer screening between ages 40-49 years, and continue screening women age 70 years and older.

Breast cancer screening practices with high-risk women: A cross-sectional survey.

1550 Background: Little literature exists on primary care providers’ knowledge and preferences towards breast cancer screening for high-risk women. While guidelines recommend MRI and mammography, it is unclear how frequently these recommendations are used. Methods: This web-based survey of providers licensed to practice in Minnesota was conducted. This analysis focuses on breast cancer screening practices for high-risk women. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics; professional characteristic comparisons were conducted using Chi-squared tests. Results: 805 of 10,392 (8%) invitees completed the survey. 72.2% were female. 43.9% were physicians (20.8% internists, 71.7% family medicine, 6.3% gynecology), 11.4% physician assistants (PAs), 44.8% advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). 84.8% were in community practice, 38% &gt; 20 years of experience and 27.1% &lt; 10 years. When asked how effective screening was for reducing cancer mortality in high risk women, mammography was thought to be very effective (48.8%) or effective (46.8%) in women ages 40-49 years, for women ages 50+ years, 60.8% and 35.7%, respectively. 62.4% thought breast MRI was very effective in reducing cancer mortality in high risk women. There was no difference in breast MRI recommendation based on professional background, experience or practice setting. Female practitioners, less experience, and those working in gynecology or women’s health were more likely to recommend breast MRI. A case vignette for high risk screening cancer survivors is provided (Table). Conclusions: Most primary care providers believe mammography is helpful in women at high risk for developing breast cancer. Less than half of practitioners, however, are following guideline specific recommendations of both mammography and MRI for breast cancer screening in high-risk patients. [Table: see text]

Breast Cancer risk factors and screening practices Among Women Attending Family Health Centers in Cairo Governorate

Breast Cancer risk factors and screening practices Among Women Attending Family Health Centers in Cairo Governorate

Questions About Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Knowledge, Practice, and Outcomes: A Review of Demographic and Health Surveys.

United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals and the World Health Organization's Global Monitoring Framework support a strong global commitment to reducing the high burden of cervical and breast cancers among low- and middle-income countries. Strategies include vaccination, screening, and early diagnosis. Population-based surveys, such as those conducted by the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program, can collect the information needed to guide cancer control efforts in a standardized comparable manner. We identified and evaluated the breadth of breast and cervical cancer screening information that was collected by the DHS from 1984 through 2015. Then, we determined if these surveys currently provide the specific and measurable data about both the quantity and quality of cancer screening needed to guide national efforts to reduce the overall effects of cervical and breast cancers. We searched the DHS website to identify surveys conducted between the start of the DHS Program in 1984 and November 2015 that included questions about breast and cervical cancer screening. The relevant questions were extracted from the questionnaire, translated into English, and grouped by themes. Of the 90 countries where DHS surveys have been implemented, cervical cancer screening questions were included in 22 countries (24.4%) and breast cancer screening questions in 18 countries (20.0%). The common themes identified were disease knowledge, screening knowledge, screening practice, and screening outcomes. Most countries with survey questionnaires available for review addressed at least one aspect of screening practice (88.9% of cervical and 87.5% of breast), although few countries queried knowledge and outcomes. Questions that assess varied aspects of breast and cervical cancer screening have been incorporated into relatively few DHS surveys. The themes identified could guide the design of a standard set of questions for use in future population-based surveys and enable evaluation beyond the existence of screening, which would include assessment of the quality and impact of cervical and breast cancer screening.

Breast cancer screening practices of African migrant women in Australia: a descriptive cross-sectional study

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among women and a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, globally. Breast cancer mortality can be improved through routine cancer screening, yet migrant populations have lower participation rates. While African migrants are among the fastest growing migrant population in Australia, their breast cancer screening behaviour is under-studied. The aims of this study were to report breast cancer screening status of African migrant women and factors associated with their breast cancer screening behaviour in Australia.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional approach was utilised for this study. Two hundred and sixty four African migrant women aged 18–69 years and recruited from a number of organisations responded to a self-reported African version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ). Main research variables are breast cancer screening practices and demographic characteristics and total scores on each of the BCSBQ subscales. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the impact of the demographic variables on the likelihood of women in the target age range 50–74 years having screening practices as recommended.ResultsWhile most of the participants heard of breast awareness (76.1%) and mammogram (85.2%), only 11.4% practised monthly breast awareness, whereas 65.9% had ever had a mammogram as frequently as recommended. Age and employment were determining factors for participating in mammogram. Significant different scores were found in the “Practical barriers” between women at the target age who had and had not performed breast awareness (80.4 versus 77.5, p-value = 0.002) and mammogram (77.1 versus 70.3, p-value = 0.009) regularly as recommended. Moreover, attitudes towards general health check-ups subscale scores were significantly higher in women who had performed clinical breast examination as frequently as recommended than those who had not.ConclusionsThe research reveals that practical barriers and attitudes towards general health check-ups are important factors to take into account in determining African migrant women’s participation in breast cancer screening. Progress in reducing breast cancer deaths through early detection needs to focus on attitudinal change among African migrants.

Breast cancer screening practices and related health beliefs among Taiwanese nurses

Objective:Breast cancer is one of most common cancer types among women in Taiwan. Nurses are in an ideal position to promote breast cancer screening and educate individuals about breast health-related issues. This exploratory study aims to provide preliminary information on Taiwanese nurses’ beliefs about breast cancer, breast cancer-related knowledge, and their cancer screening practices.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a total of 96 nurses completed self-report questionnaires.Results:Participants were knowledgeable about the different breast cancer screening modalities and the risk factors for breast cancer, but various misconceptions about breast cancer were still observed. Nevertheless, more than 50% of participants reported that they never had clinical breast examinations, ultrasound, and/or mammography screening in the past.Conclusions:Our study sample demonstrated greater knowledge on modalities of breast cancer screening modalities and the risk factors for breast cancers but lower screening practices. Future studies that examine the impact of demographics and the reinforcing and inhibiting factors related to nurses’ screening uptake are warranted.

Psychometric properties of the Modified Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire among Mainland Chinese women.

The aim of the study was to report the psychometric properties of the modified 'Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire' (BCSBQ) among women living in China. A convenience sample of 494 women was recruited from community centres and out-patient clinics in Foshan city. Cronbach's alpha was used to assess internal consistency reliability. Criterion validity was examined by testing three pre-specified hypotheses and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to study the factor structure. The results indicated that the modified BCSBQ has satisfactory validity and internal consistency. Cronbach's alpha of the three subscales ranged between 0.77 and 0.84. As hypothesized, the frequencies of breast self-examination and clinical breast examination were significantly associated with the subscales' score. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the hypothesized three-factor structure with our data set. The modified BCBSQ is a culturally appropriate, valid and reliable instrument for assessing the beliefs, knowledge and attitudes to breast cancer and breast cancer screening practices among women living in China. It can be used for providing health care professionals with insights into the development of breast cancer screening promotion programs.

Breast cancer screening practices amongst female tertiary health worker in Nnewi.

Breast cancer in Nigeria and other developing countries is characterized by late presentation and poor outcome due to ignorance, superstition, self-denial, fear of mastectomy, and unavailability of treatment facilities. The mortality of breast cancer in Western world is decreasing due to early detection and better management. This study aims at accessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast cancer screening among female tertiary health workers. A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out using a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of breast cancer and screening methods among female health workers. The mean age of respondents was 31.70 ± 7.62 years. The level of awareness of breast cancer screening methods was high: 158 (98.75%), 127 (79.4%), and 144 (90.0%) for breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography, respectively. However, only 47 (35.9%), 36 (22.5%), and 3 (1.9%) correctly practiced BSE, CBE, and mammography, respectively. The level of education and occupation showed significant correlations with the knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening methods. Breast cancer screening still needs to be promoted to improve the attitude and practice among both health workers and general population.

Practice of breast cancer screening of families with hereditary breast cancer

Practice of breast cancer screening of families with hereditary breast cancer

Awareness about Early Detection Methods, Symptoms and Risk Factors towards Breast and Cervical Cancer among the Female Students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University (MBSTU), Santosh, Tangail, Bangladesh

The study was conducted to ensure knowledge, attitude, awareness about breast and cervical cancer among the female students of Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University. This study was carried out from July to September, 2015 among the participants of university female halls, different female hostels and different faculty of the university by using a validated questionnaire which was developed for this study. A total 250 female students, at the age of (18 - 26) years were participated. Collected information was analyzed using SPSS, Graph-pad Prism and MS Excel. The results showed that about 87.6% participants were undergraduate. Most of them come from village (45.6%) and city (36.0%). About 90% were Muslims and the socioeconomic level of most of the participants was middle (90.4%). In case of food intake patterns, it was observed that 35.6% participants eat chips, soft drinks, popcorn everyday; 40.4% eat meat regularly; 24% eat sugar everyday; 27.6% eat fruits and vegetables every day. Among them, 55.6% girls maintained daily 1 hour physical activity; 37.2% did exercise rarely; 34.8% participants rarely do strenuous exercise. About 84.4% respondents have not any family history of cancer; 6% participants have sister or mother having breast tumor and 7.2% have at least more than one close relative who have cancer. Among the participants, only 0.8% drank alcohol; 1.2% have addiction of smoking cigarette; 15.6% girls wear tight bra; 3.6% have benign breast disease and 2.8% participants have attended in breast or cervical cancer screening programs. The moderate numbers of girls have breast cancer screening practice. Among them, only 28.8% participants have ever heard about BSE (Breast self-examination) and 40.4% have not any knowledge about breast cancer treatment. About 50.8% respondents don’t have any knowledge about cervical cancer treatment. The village people are the most risky group. About 17.02% girls recognized weakened immune system as a risk factor of cervical cancer. It can be concluded that, knowledge of participants regarding breast and cervical cancer is poor. Targeted education should be implemented to improve the knowledge of respondents about early detection methods and symptoms of breast and cervical cancer.