Breast Self‐Examination

Modern breast cancer detection: a technological review

Breast cancer is a serious threat worldwide and is the number two killer of women in the United States. The key to successful management is screening and early detection. What follows is a description of the state of the art in screening and detection for breast cancer as well as a discussion of new and emerging technologies. This paper aims to serve as a starting point for those who are not acquainted with this growing field.

CAUTION! Consider cancer: common symptoms and signs for early detection of cancer in young adults

Because young adults frequently have longer delays in diagnosis of their cancers than younger or older persons, healthcare providers who encounter this age group should become more aware of diagnostic clues for early detection. The spectrum of cancer types and their relative frequencies is distinctly different in young adults than the array in younger and older persons, such that the symptoms and signs in aggregate are distinctly different. Of potential value in recognizing manifestations of cancer in young adults is a mnemonic-friendly list of seven symptoms each represented by a letter in CAUTION, and seven sites of signs starting with the letter B. These aids have the potential of assisting in early detection, accurate diagnosis, longer survival, and a reduced risk of premature death.

Health beliefs and breast self-examination in a sample of Turkish nursing students and their mothers

AIM

To describe health beliefs and breast self-examination practice of Turkish female nursing students and their mothers.

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Turkish women. Breast self-examination is one of the primary methods for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women.

DESIGN

The study was designed as a cross-sectional and comparative survey. The data were obtained from 392 participants, including female nursing students (n = 196) and their mothers (n = 196) in Ankara, Turkey.

METHODS

Data were collected by using a personal data form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, chi-square test, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were conducted.

RESULTS

The percentage of nursing students who performed breast self-examination regularly was statistically higher than that of their mothers. The scores of health motivation, benefits and confidence were significantly higher in nursing students. The mothers' perceived susceptibility and barriers were significantly higher than their daughters. The frequency of breast self-examination practice was affected by the level of education, the mother's or daughter's monthly performance of breast self-examination and the level of perceived barrier to breast self-examination.

CONCLUSIONS

There were differences in health beliefs related to breast self-examination and its practice between nursing students and their mothers. The results of this study showed that monthly performance of breast self-examination was more common among women who graduated from high school and university, whose mother or daughter performed breast self-examination regularly every month and those with lower levels of perceived barriers.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

It is essential that nurses be aware of the factors that contribute to monthly performance of breast self-examination. Cultural factors should be considered in planning educational programmes about breast self-examination practice. Interventions should be designed to enhance nursing students' proficiency in performing breast self-examination.

How do nurses and teachers perform breast self-examination: are they reliable sources of information?

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare knowledge, behavior and attitudes among female nurses and teachers concerning breast self-examination (BSE).

Methods

Two-hundred and eighty nine women working in Aydin, Turkey (125 nurses and 164 teachers) were included in the study. The data were collected using a questionnaire designed to measure the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the groups. Analysis involved percentiles, χ² tests, t tests and factor analysis.

Results

The knowledge of nurses about BSE was higher than that of teachers (81.5% versus 45.1%; p < 0.001). BSE practice parameters (i.e. age groups, indications, frequency) were similar (p > 0.05), whereas skills in performing self-examination were higher in nurses (p < 0.001). Fear of having breast cancer is the most frequent reason for performing BSE. Among nurses, the reasons for failure to perform BSE were the absence of prominent breast problems (82%) and forgetting (56.4%). The teachers who did not perform BSE said that the reasons were lack of knowledge on how to perform self-examination (68.9%) and absence of problems (54%). Both groups had unacceptable technical errors in the performance of BSE.

Conclusion

We conclude that nurses and teachers should be supported with information enabling them to accomplish their roles in the community. To improve BSE practice, it is crucial to coordinate continuous and planned education.