Breast cancer: Awareness and risk factors in college-going younger age group women in Rajasthan.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine awareness about breast cancer and its risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: Community based prospective cross sectional analysis. SETTING: College-going younger age group women of Rajasthan, with women's knowledge about breast cancer, risk factors, treatment, detection and preventive modalities as main outcome measures. RESULTS: All the respondents had heard of breast cancer. Awareness about breast mass/lump to be cardinal symptom of breast cancer was true for 65% of respondents. The main early diagnostic modality mammography was known by 19% of respondents while 49% aware about ultrasonography. Some 28% of the women were not aware about self breast examination. CONCLUSIONS: Women do have knowledge deficits about breast cancer and various related factors.