CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Breast cancer, it is a cancer that develops from breast tissue (Breast Cancer, 2014)
Breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among women world wild and the second
most common cancer among both sexes, making up 12.3% of all cancers (excluding
nonmelanoma skin cancer) and 23% of all female cancers (Bray, 2018). This shows an upward
trend, as it was reported to make up 10.9% of all cancers in 2008 (Lyon, 2010). Although breast
cancer is thought to be a disease the developed world, nearly 50% of breast cancer cases and
58% of deaths occur in less developed countries. Change in lifestyle has led to increasing
incidence of breast cancer in Africa (Opoku, 2012). The incidence of breast cancer in Africa in
2018 ranged from 27.9/100000 in central Africa to 48.9/100000 in Northern Africa, with a
corresponding mortality of 15.8% -18.4%, respectively (Globocan, 2019).
The knowledge and health seeking attitude for breast cancer management are low in Africa
,(Strobele, 2018) such that majority of the affected patients present late to the hospital when
little or nothing can be done in terms of treatment .It has been reported that most patients with
breast cancer developing countries present for the first time at advanced stages(Martei,
2018).This is possibly due to lack of early detection of the disease . The diagnosis of breast
cancer during the early stage has been linked to a reduction in mortality, morbidity, and cost
of management of the illness (Tavafian, 2009). This indicates a need for increased community
awareness of methods of the early detection of the disease.
Early detection is usually done through screening, and screening method include breast self
examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography (Obaji, 2013). Due
to fewer number of experts and lack of advance diagnostic techniques in developing countries

,promoting regular BSE has been said to be feasible screening option for early detection for
breast cancer(Abate, 2016). However, its practice is dependent on knowledge and altitude
toward breast cancer and BSE among women (Dundar, 2006). BSE involves visualization and
palpation of the breast by oneself for lumps, shape, texture, size and contour. The purpose of
BSE is for a woman to be able to identify changes in the breast should they exist. It is carried
out once monthly between day 7 and 10 of the menstrual cycle (Segni, 2016).
BSE has a positive effect on the early detection of breast cancer. About 80% of breast cancers
not detected by mammography are detected by women themselves, though most often not as a
part of a systemic regular self-examination, but as a part of daily activities such as showering
and dressing. BSE is regarded as a valuable screening tool for breast cancer when used as an
adjunct to CBE and mammography (Smith, 2005). Furthermore, it can be utilized in enhancing
breast cancer awareness among women.8 BSE is recommended because it is in expensive
private, painless, easy ,and safe and requires no special equipment (Sama, 2017).It has also
been shown in improve breast health awareness and thus potentially allow for the early
detection of breast anomalies (Nde, 2015). While screening programs with mammography have
been effective in high-income countries, research has shown that other strategies such as BSE
are equally important in reducing mortality from breast
cancer, particularly in low-resource settings (Richmond, 2019).
1.2 Problem Statement
Breast cancer has been listed as the number two malignancy that led to dead in elderly woman
(Abram & Seremetis, 1997). As a result, an urgent an urgent need existed to reduce elderly
women’s risks for breast cancer with a possible health behaviour that could help in lowering
this treat. In Cameroon the crude annual incidence of breast cancer is estimated at 19.3 per
100.000 women with a mortality of 10.7 per 100.000 women (Globocan, 2008).

Buea Town Community in regards to the female population is mostly compromised of older
women in which the majority of them are specialised in farming and trading with a low level
of education hence are not exposed to adequate information regarding their health.
1.3 Rational
This study, Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Breast Self-examination Practice among women
aged 30 to 50years in the Buea Town Community will help the women to know the importance
of breast self -examination and also provide them with a reliable source of information
regarding breast cancer and those who are highly predisposed to the disease.
1.4 Research Questions

1 What is the level of knowledge of knowledge on breast cancer among women aged 30
50years of the Beau town community?
1 What is the level knowledge on breast self-examination among women aged 30-50years in
the Buea town community.
2 What are the practices towards breast self-examination among women aged 30-50years in
the Buea town community?
1.5 Research Objectives
1.5.1 General Objective
To assess the level Knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination practices among
women of 30 to 50 years in the Buea Town Community.
1.5.2 Specific Objectives
1 To assess the level of knowledge of women aged 30 to 50 years on breast cancer in the Buea
town community.

1 To find out the level of knowledge on breast self-examination among women aged 30
50years in the Buea town community.
2 To assess the level of practices towards breast self-examination among women aged 30
50years in the Buea town community.
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