A Study of Breast Cancer Awareness among Females in Pasar Siti Khatijah, Kota Bharu,

Kelantan

Yong Kah TyanNurul Nurizzati Bt Mohd Sukarno

Nurul Natasha Huda Bt Mudzafar ShahNadhirah Bt Ahmad Nurdina

PROGRAMME DIPLOMA RADIOGRAPHY

Aims of Research

• To find out the awareness level of females on breast cancer

• To investigate the relationship between educational level and awareness level on breast cancer among females in Pasar Siti Khatijah

Early Detection of Breast Cancer

• Early detection of breast cancer through clinical breast exams and screening mammograms provides the best means of reducing the risk of dying from breast cancer!!

Early Detection Is Your BEST PROTECTION

If breast cancer is found and treated early,

the survival rate is 98%.

2 The key to early

detection is screening.

1 The key to finding breast

cancer is early

detection.

Intro to MAMMOGRAPHY

History 1960 Mammography started.

1969Modern mammography existed when

the first X-ray units dedicated to breast imaging were available.

1976 Mammography as a screening device

became standard practice.

Mammography is a special X-ray examination of the breast.

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast.

The best radiographic method available today to detect breast changes.

Using low-energy X-rays (usually around 30 kVp) to examine the human breast and is used as a diagnostic and a screening tool.

Definition

Clinical Breast Exam

A clinical breast exam is

when a health-care provider looks for and feels for any changes in your breasts.

Mammogram

A mammogram is important.

A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. It can detect breast cancer two to three years before a lump can be felt.

Who is the patient??

Women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease.

It can also be used if you have a lump or other sign of breast cancer.

Recommended that women age 40 or older have screening mammograms every 1 to 2 years.

Recommended for younger women who have symptoms of breast cancer or who have a high risk of the disease.

Modalities

• MammographyScreening

• Mammography• Ultrasound• Biopsy• MRI• CT

Diagnostic

- Low dose radiation (ability to repeat the mammogram once a year)- Detect around 75% of cancers before it can be felt by the woman or her physician- Inexpensive

- For women who have a breast implant- Normal breast tissue can hide a breast cancer so that it doesn't show up on the mammogram (False Negative)

Benefits

Risks

Self-Breast Examination (SBE)

• Systematic examination of one’s breasts• Once a month on a particular day of the

menstrual cycle• Should be started at the age of 20yrs• Seek medical advice for suspicious

symptoms

Breast Cancer : Risk Factors• Sex • Age • Personal History• Family History• The Breast Cancer Genes • Early menarche (first period or menstrual bleeding). • Having no children • Having a first full term pregnancy after age 25 • Lack of breast feeding• Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy • Increased daily fat intake - especially saturated or

hydrogenated fats.

Breast Cancer : Symptoms

• Painless lump or swelling• Ill-defined thickening• Thickening of skin• Nipple retraction (pulled inward)• Nipple discharge• Swelling in the armpit

Breast Cancer Screening

All women >20 years

Breast Self Examination every month Clinical Breast Examination every 2 - 3

years

All women > 40 years Clinical Breast Examination yearlyMammography yearly

Problem Statement / Background

• Breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancers among women in both developed and developing countries. The total number of new cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually in the world exceeds one million (WHO, 2007).

• In Malaysia breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women of all ethnic groups.

• Inadequate knowledge, geographical isolation, and poverty might be possible reasons for the delay of breast cancer detection in Malaysia (Hisham and Yip, 2003).

• Early detection of breast cancer plays the leading role in reducing mortality rates and improving the patients’ prognosis (Elmore et al., 2005).

• The survival rate is higher with early detection of breast cancer. However, with local invasion, the survival rate decreases and if it is diagnosed at the latest stage, only a very low numbers of patients will survive.

• For primary prevention of breast cancer, women need to be adequately informed about risk factors and risk reduction strategies for breast cancer.

• Several studies have shown inadequate levels of knowledge towards risk factors awareness and screening methods including mammography, even among educated women and health care providers (Madanat and Merill, 2002; Ahmed et al., 2006; Parsa et al., 2008; Amin et al., 2009).

• The awareness about breast cancer among Malaysian women is not well documented.

• Several studies have been conducted worldwide to elicit women’s knowledge about breast cancer and breast screening practices.

• But in Malaysia very few studies have been reported.

• There is a need to know the awareness level and screening practices in a country with wide socio-demographic status.

• Therefore this study was done to determine the level of awareness and practices of breast cancer screening.

• Baseline data on women’s knowledge is essential in developing an effective and targeted awareness level and instill practice habits to prevent delayed presentations of breast cancer.

Methodology

include questions on knowledge of breast cancer and awareness of mammography

a total of 20 questions and 5 questions on choices of media.

distributed in both English and Bahasa Malaysia.

Ques

tionn

aire

The Questionnaire

•Socio-demographic status

•questions on age, race, level of education, marital status, and family history of breast cancer.

Section 1

•knowledge about breast cancer

•questions about breast cancer knowledge, signs and symptoms and risk factors.

Section 2

•Awareness of mammography

•6 questions

Section 3

Study design

•was conducted among 150 females in Pasar Siti Khatijah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan.

•Females less than 20 years old and those with language barriers and those who refused to participate were excluded from this study.

Data collection

• The purpose of the study was explained to females participated, confidentiality and their right to withdraw was ensured.

• A written description of the purpose and aims of the study give along with the questionnaires.

• A simple pamphlet of signs and symptoms of breast cancer will be given to each participator in order to increase the level of awareness on breast cancer.

Data analysis

• Analysis was performed using Social Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) software.

• Scores of knowledge items were summed to obtain the mean total knowledge score on breast cancer.

• Descriptive statistics were obtained for all the variables in the study.

• Knowledge scores were expressed as mean and standard deviations.

• Mann Whitney U, spearman correlation and chi square test were performed in data analysis. Significance level was set at p< 0.05.

Results

AGE02468

101214161820

3

12

1718

Age Group of Respondents

20-30 31-40 41-50 50 & above

RACE

40

2 1

7

Respondents’ Race

Malay Chinese India Other

Marital Status Family History of Breast Ca

42

68

44

Marital Status & Family History of Breast Ca of Re-spondents

Yes No

Education Level0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

4

36

10

Education Level of Respondents

primary schoolsecondary schoolhigher education

Risk Fa

ctor

Sign &

Sympto

m

Breast Se

lf Exa

mination

Heard ab

out Mam

mo

Any Info of M

ammo

Mam

mo Screening A

ge

Mam

mo Exam before 0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

0 2 0 2 1 1 0

2930

1520

13 107

97

5

9

42

3

Knowledge and Awareness level of Respondents

higher educationsecondary schoolprimary school

• In this study, most of the respondents(72%) have educational level of secondary school.

• Basically, they know about the risk factors, signs and symptoms of breast Ca (76% and 78%) but only 40% of them perform BSE.

• From a total of 50 respondents, 62% of them have heard about mammo but very few of them know about the screening age(26%).

• The study show that they have a little sources about mammo (36%) and only 20% of them perform mammogram before.

Discussion

Conclusion

• Based on the study, the overall knowledge and awareness level of females in Pasar Siti Khatijah is still low.

• This can be evidenced from the habits of BSE(40%) and very low number of respondents that have been perform mammography before(20%).

References

• KC Kanaga, J. N. (2011). Awareness of Breast Cancer and Screening Procedures Among Malaysian Women. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 1965-1967.

• Sami Abdo Radman Al-Dubai, A. M.-A. (2011). Awareness and Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Mammography among a Group of Malaysian Women in Shah Alam. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention, 2531-2538.

Thank You !