Study on the Awareness of Breast Cancer and Prevalence of Breast Self-Examination among Urban Women in Chennai

Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer occurring in Indian women. In India, one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 4 minutes and one woman dies of breast cancer every 8 minutes. The age standardised rate is approximately 25.8 per one lakh women and is expected to rise to 35 per one lakh women in 2026. Approximately 60% of patients with breast cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge of breast cancer and the practice of breast self-examination among urban women.

This is a cross-sectional research study carried out in Valasaravakkam locality in Chennai. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used which contains socio-demographic details, and questions about risk factors of breast cancer, practice of breast self-examination and mammography. The data was collected through interview after obtaining informed consent from the subjects.

Responses were collected from 100 women within the age group of 18–55. A little more than 90% of the women have heard of breast cancer. Media and Educational Institutions play a key role in expanding the awareness of breast cancer. Most women identified family history as a cause and a lump in the breast as a sign of breast cancer. 68% of women have heard of breast self-examination but only 40% of them practice it. 66% of the women knew about mammography, and 10% women have had a mammography done before.

This study concluded that the awareness of the breast cancer was good but the knowledge and practice of breast self-examination was poor, which is vital for the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.