Abstract
Introduction: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death among women globally. Better outcomes for
patients can be ensured by early detection and treatment. Early detection requires
a high degree of awareness about the various aspects of cancer including etiology,
risk factors, signs and symptoms, and breast self-examination (BSE) practices. The
purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and awareness related to breast
cancer along with willingness for treatment, among women in an urban setup in Western
India. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 500 women belonging to the age group of
18–70 years residing in an urban area of Mumbai. Data were obtained through the use
of a structured questionnaire over a period of 6 months (April–September 2016). Results: Over half of the respondents (71.42%) knew the symptoms of breast cancer. Awareness
regarding the risk factors was varied. Although most (85.71%) of the respondents knew
about BSE, contrastingly very few (38.09%) actually performed it. Awareness regarding
diagnostic tests was limited to mammography and biopsy, but 90.47% of the women were
willing to undergo these tests. 66.67% of women reported that the best treatment for
breast cancer was surgery. Conclusion: Awareness of the different presentations of
breast cancers (other than lump) is limited and so is the knowledge pertaining to
risk factors. A lower level of education is most likely responsible for the low level
of awareness and this is the main obstacle for undergoing regular cancer screening
and early detection. There is a need of developing an effective health education programs
to educate women about breast cancer, propagate valid information via the media, and
promote early detection of breast cancer to ensure better outcomes.
Keywords
Awareness - breast cancer - India - risk factors - urban setup
