TITLE:
Awareness of Breast Cancer in Lower Socioeconomic Status Women Attending the Surgery Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Teaching Institution
AUTHORS:
S. Keerthana, Arcot Rekha
KEYWORDS:
Breast Cancer, Awareness, Questionnaire, Mammogram, Barriers, Screening, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
JOURNAL NAME:
Case Reports in Clinical Medicine,
Vol.8 No.8,
August
12,
2019
ABSTRACT: Background: Worldwide breast cancer represents nearly a quarter (25%) of all cancers and is the most common female cancer. Objective: The present study was conducted to check the awareness of breast cancer warning signs & symptoms, available investigations and treatment options among women of a suburban area in Chennai, Tamilnadu (India). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted amongst women attending the surgery outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching institution in Chennai, Tamilnadu (India), using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered during one to one interview by trained research assistants. Results: The study population showed poor awareness of warning signs like changes in position of nipple, pulling in of nipple, nipple rash, changes in size of nipple, puckering/dimpling of breast skin colour changes in breast skin, lump under armpit, changes in size and shape of breast. Conclusion: The observations indicated that the level of awareness and knowledge about the presentation and management of breast cancer is suboptimal among women in Thandalam (suburban Chennai).