First-Degree Relatives of Breast-Cancer Patients: Cognitive Perceptions, Coping, and Adherence to Breast Self-Examination

The knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) was investigated among 500 women with operable breast tumors between 35 and 64 years of age (all successively operated) and 652 healthy women, matched with the previous group for 5-year age groups from 35 to 54 years. Only 39.9 % of breast cancer women and 34.5 % of the controls practiced BSE, and only a third of these did it monthly. Such practice tends to progressively decrease, starting from 45 years, and it is used less frequently by the women with a poor education and those in a lower economic bracket. Among the 500 breast cancer patients, those who practiced the self-examination had a higher number of tumors with a diameter no greater than 2 cm and a lower number with a diameter larger than 4 cm. In addition, in this group the percentage of unaffected axillary lymph nodes (N–) was 58.8 % compared to 48.8 % for the group that did not practice self-examination, and the percentage of the cases with more than 3 metastatic lymph nodes (N+ > 3) was 20.0 % in the first group and 27.3 % of the second one. These differences are statistically significant. The correlation between tumor diameter and the histologic lymph node stage is equally evident, since there is a progressive reduction in N– cases and a contemporary progressive increase in N+ (> 3) cases with increasing breast tumor diameter. Therefore, we can infer that the lack of practice of BSE causes a diagnostic and therapeutic delay, which is responsible for aggravation of the prognosis.

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Breast self-examination practice and its impact on breast cancer diagnosis in Alexandria, Egypt

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal ◽

10.26719/2000.6.1.34 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 34-40

Author(s):

M. Abdel Fattah ◽

A. Zaki ◽

A. Bassili ◽

M. El Shazly ◽

G. Tognoni

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Positive Family History ◽

Diagnostic Delay ◽

Breast Cancer Diagnosis ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Breast Self Examination ◽

Delay In Diagnosis ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

Self Examination

This study estimated the frequency of breast-self examination practice and its possible relation to the stage of the disease at diagnosis and patient-related delay in diagnosis among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Breast self-examination was practised in 10.4% of cases. It was performed by patients from higher socioeconomic levels and those with a positive family history of breast cancer or benign breast mass. There was significant association between failure to practise breast self-examination and diagnostic delay. We emphasize the need for breast self-examination awareness campaigns as a key measure for ensuring earlier diagnosis and hence better prognoses for breast cancer patients in our community

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Self-perceived Risk of Breast Cancer and Screening Behaviors of First-degree Female Relatives of Breast Cancer Patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda

10.21203/rs.3.rs-343329/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Provia Ainembabazi ◽

Derrick Bary Abila ◽

Grace Manyangwa ◽

Godwin Anguzu ◽

Innocent Mutyaba ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Early Detection ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Breast Cancer Screening ◽

Perceived Risk ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Perceived Risks ◽

First Degree Relatives ◽

Cancer Breast

Abstract Introduction In Uganda, Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females globally. The majority of the patients present with advanced-stage disease at diagnoses and experience high mortality. This underscores the importance of early detection approaches based on awareness of risk factors and self-perceived risks, and symptoms of the disease to promote adoption of risk reduction behaviors and prompt health-seeking respectively. This study assessed the self-perceived risk of breast cancer, and breast cancer screening behaviours among first-degree female relatives of breast cancer patients in Uganda.Methods This was a cross-sectional study employing quantitative approaches for data collection and analyses. First-degree female relatives of patients attending care at Uganda Cancer Institute were recruited consecutively in the study. A pre-tested coded questionnaire was used to collect data on self-perceived risks, breast cancer risks, and breast cancer screening behaviours. Data were collected between March to October 2019. A modified Poisson regression model was used to evaluate factors associated with self-perceived risk of breast cancer and breast cancer risk awareness.ResultsWe enrolled 296 first-degree female relatives from 197 female breast cancer patients. The median age (IQR) was 33 (26-43) years. A majority (60.1%, 178/296) of the participants had a low self-perceived risk of breast cancer. Breast self-examination (55.7%, 165/296) was the most practiced screening method followed by clinical breast examination (n= 64/296, 21.6%), ultrasound scan of the breast (7.8%, 23/296,), and mammogram (3.7%, 11/296). Women aged 35-44 years had a higher self-perceived risk of breast cancer (adjusted Incident Rate Ratio [aIRR]: 1.75, 95%CI: 1.10-2.80), compared to women aged 18-25 years. ConclusionFirst-degree relatives reported a low self-perceived risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer health education especially targeting younger women should emphasize the increased risk of breast cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. There is a need to increase awareness of breast cancer screening methods and their usefulness in the early detection of breast cancer among all women in Uganda.

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