A CME presentation -HUSM

1. A Study of Breast Cancer Awareness
among Females in Pasar Siti
Khatijah, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
Yong Kah Tyan
Nurul Nurizzati Bt Mohd Sukarno
Nurul Natasha Huda Bt Mudzafar Shah
Nadhirah Bt Ahmad Nurdina
PROGRAMME DIPLOMA RADIOGRAPHY

2. 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

3. 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!!

4. Early Detection Is Your
BEST PROTECTION
If breast cancer is found
and treated early,
the survival rate is 98%.

5. 2  The key
to early
detection is
screening.
1  The key to
finding breast
cancer is
early
detection.

6. Intro to MAMMOGRAPHY
History
1960
Mammography
started.
1969
Modern
mammography
existed when
the first X-ray
units dedicated
to breast
imaging were
available.
1976
Mammography
as a screening
device became
standard
practice.

7. Definition
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.

8. Clinical Breast Exam
A clinical breast exam is
when a health-care
provider looks for and
feels for any changes in
your breasts.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Modalities
Screening
Diagnostic
• Mammography
•
•
•
•
•
Mammography
Ultrasound
Biopsy
MRI
CT

12. Benefits
- 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
Risks
implant
- Normal breast tissue can hide a
breast cancer so that it doesn't
show up on the mammogram
(False Negative)

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Breast Cancer : Symptoms
•
•
•
•
•
•
Painless lump or swelling
Ill-defined thickening
Thickening of skin
Nipple retraction (pulled inward)
Nipple discharge
Swelling in the armpit

16. 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 yearly
Mammography yearly

17. 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).

18. • 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.

19. • 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.

20. • 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.

21. • 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.

22. 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.

23. The Questionnaire
Section
1
Section 2
Section 3
• Socio-demographic status
• questions on age, race, level of
education, marital status, and family
history of breast cancer.
• knowledge about breast cancer
• questions about breast cancer
knowledge, signs and symptoms
and risk factors.
• Awareness of mammography
• 6 questions

30. 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.

31. 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.

32. 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.

33. Results
Age Group of Respondents
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
17
12
3
AGE
20-30
31-40
41-50
50 & above
18

34. Respondents’ Race
Malay
Chinese
India
Other
40
7
2
1
RACE

35. Marital Status & Family History of Breast Ca of Respondents
Yes
No
44
42
8
Marital Status
6
Family History of Breast Ca

36. Education Level of Respondents
40
36
35
30
25
primary school
20
secondary school
15
higher education
10
10
5
4
0
Education Level

37. Knowledge and Awareness level of Respondents
45
40
35
9
7
30
9
25
20
15
29
30
4
20
10
15
5
0
5
0
2
0
2
13
2
1
10
1
3
7
0
higher education
secondary school
primary school

38. Discussion
• 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.

39. 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%).

40. 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, 25312538.

41. Thank You !