Breast Self-Examination for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer: A Quantitative Research Approach

Abstract

Breast cancer now accounts for almost one in four cancers diagnosed in women, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women today (after lung cancer). According to Globocan 2012, India along with United States and China collectively accounts for almost one third of the global breast cancer burden. India is facing challenging situation due to 11.54% increases in incidence and 13.82% increase in mortality due to breast cancer during 2008-2012.1 The present study was conducted to assess the knowledge of breast self-examination among college girls. A descriptive research design was used to conduct the study. The study was conducted among the college girls of a selected college of Delhi (Rufaida College of Nursing, Jamia Hamdard). The sample size was 70 and the subject was selected using the convenient sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was developed to assess the knowledge of breast self-examination among college girls. Findings of the present revealed that majority of the subjects (88.6%) possess previous information of breast cancer, while few of the subjects (11.4%) were not aware much about the breast cancer. The study concludes that emphasis should be given to the studies that are related to the breast self-examination as there is an urgent need to look after the issues of growing risk of breast cancer and their poor health seeking behavior in young age.