Awareness and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms and Screening Among Females-Evidence from India

Breast cancer is a major health burden mainly in the developed countries but its rates are also increasing in the developing countries. With such increasing rates of breast cancer it is imperative that the general population is aware of its risk factors, early screening methods and the preventive measures that can be undertaken before its development. Health communication campaigns have for a long time been employed to create awareness about the risks of various diseases and habits which are detrimental to health. In addition, some have sought to inspire change in behaviour or promote a specific behaviour. Breast cancer awareness campaigns; have been used to encourage screening and breast self-examination that would allow for early detection and successful treatment thereafter. The awareness campaigns specify the population that stands the greatest risk to get cancer which in the case of breast cancer, it is women. The purpose of the study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practice about breast self-examination, clinical breast examination and mammography as early detection tools for breast cancer among females in India, to compare the findings of the study with the related studies done in other places and to help in designing a proper health education scheme regarding breast cancer.