• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 2003

This study was intented to identify the differences of fatigue and quality of life in patients with breast cancer according to the different treatment modalities. Ninety-one subjects were recruited from a medical unit and a therapeutic radiologic clinic at a university hospital in Chungnam, Korea. Fatigue was measured using Lee's scale(1999) translated from Piper's Fatigue Scale and quality of life was measured using Yang's scale(2002). The women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy were less fatigued and had better quality of life than those receiving radiotherapy(t=-2.914, p=.005; t=2.565, p=.012, respectively). The fatigue and quality of life in the women with breast cancer undergoing cancer treatments were influenced by the weight change during the past 3 months(F=24.70, p=.039). Cancer stage, metastasis and weight were not associated with fatigue and quality of life. Health professionals can help cancer patients undergoing treatments prepare to cope with the expected side effects by providing a specific treatment-related information to them. The findings of this study can contribute the knowledge of these information.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8541-8551
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• 2016

Background: The coverage of breast and cervical cancer screening has only slightly increased in the past decade in Thailand, and these cancers remain leading causes of death among women. This study identified socioeconomic and contextual factors contributing to the variation in screening uptake and coverage. Materials and Methods: Secondary data from two nationally representative household surveys, the Health and Welfare Survey (HWS) 2007 and the Reproductive Health Survey (RHS) 2009 conducted by the National Statistical Office were used. The study samples comprised 26,951 women aged 30-59 in the 2009 RHS, and 14,619 women aged 35 years and older in the 2007 HWS were analyzed. Households of women were grouped into wealth quintiles, by asset index derived from Principal components analysis. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Screening rates for cervical and breast cancers increased between 2007 and 2009. Education and health insurance coverage including wealth were factors contributing to screening uptake. Lower or non-educated and poor women had lower uptake of screenings, as were young, unmarried, and non-Buddhist women. Coverage of the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme increased the propensity of having both screenings, while the universal coverage scheme increased the probability of cervical screening among the poor. Lack of awareness and knowledge contributed to non-use of both screenings. Women were put off from screening, especially Muslim women on cervical screening, because of embarrassment, fear of pain and other reasons. Conclusions: Although cervical screening is covered by the benefit package of three main public health insurance schemes, free of charge to all eligible women, the low coverage of cervical screening should be addressed by increasing awareness and strengthening the supply side. As mammography was not cost effective and not covered by any scheme, awareness and practice of breast self examination and effective clinical breast examination are recommended. Removal of cultural barriers is essential.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7875-7878
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• 2014

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of breast cancer risk factors among female university students in 24 low, middle income and emerging economy countries. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 10,242 undergraduate university students (mean age 20.7, SD=2.9) from 25 universities in 24 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Using anonymous questionnaires the awareness of links between breast cancer and heredity, diet, overweight, exercise, alcohol use, smoking and stress was assessed. Results indicated that 35.4% of the women were not aware that any of these risk factors could influence breast cancer, 43.8% were aware of a genetic link, and only 12.5%, 10.9% and 10.6% correctly identified alcohol use, overweight and physical inactivity, respectively, as factors causing breast cancer. Moreover, 13.3% rated dietary fat and 11.5% fibre as influencing breast cancer; both low-fat and high-fibre diets may be weakly protective against breast cancer, and smoking (19.4%) and stress (13.5%), the most commonly chosen breast cancer lifestyle risk factors, have less clear impact on breast cancer. There were marked country differences, e.g., in regards of being aware of genetic causes of breast cancer risk in female students from Ivory Coast, India, Madagascar, Nigeria and Laos below 30% and female students from Pakistan, Singapore, Turkey, Grenada and Philippines 60 or more percent. This study provides insight in the breast cancer risk perception of young women, which can be utilized in breast cancer awareness and prevention programmes.

• Asian Oncology Nursing
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.145-154
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to obtain information about the experiences of sensations after breast cancer surgery characterized by prevalence, frequency, and severity, distresses, and disturbances in ADL using the BSAS (Breast Sensation Assessment Scale) and to develop the standardized Korean BSAS. Methods: Thirty two women from 3 to 100 days after breast cancer surgery (BCS) completed Roberta's BSAS. The 18 sensations of BSAS were translated using the references of Lee's Korean Pain Rating Scale and English-English, English-Korean dictionaries and the consultation from two native Americans, one bilingual permanent resident of the States, and one nursing professor. The Korean-translated BSAS has high reliability in test-retest. Likert type 4-point scale and 100 mm VAS were used for assessment. Results: Certain sensations remained prevalent (tender, pull, pain), frequent (numb, nag, throb), severe (throb, shoot, numb), causing distress (throb, penetrate, shoot), and influencing on ADL (throb, penetrate, nag). The most frequently experienced sensation other than BSAS was itching. There was little difference in the prevalence of symptom experiences between sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection. Conclusion: The women after BCS are suffering from neuropathic sensations. The Korean- translated BSAS could be used in effectively assessing breast sensations after BCS in Korean women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 2006

This study was performed to compare nutrients intake and levels of three elements (iron, copper and zinc) in the plasma of breast cancer patients to those in healthy controls. Patients (n = 97) and their age-matched healthy control groups (n = 97) participated in the study. A semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire specifically formulated to evaluate the consumption of nutrients was used to estimate dietary intake. Only plasma was taken from the 20 patients and their age-matched healthy control group. Plasma concentrations of iron, copper, zinc, ratio of Cu/Zn were measured in both groups. Results showed that patients consumed significantly lower protein, fat, iron. Plasma level of copper and ratio of Cu/Zn were significantly higher in patients compared to those of controls. In conclusion, change of trace elements in plasma might be useful and significant as biomakers involving the initial process. And these results imply that trace elements status is a factor related to breast cancer risk and suggest that proper intake of those nutrients is required for cancer prevention.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.65-76
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate breast cancer its menopause in South Korean adult women using data from the seventh Korea national health and nutrition examination survey(KNHANES VII-2) 2017. The subjects were 3,414 people in total. The Data were analyzed by frequency, ${\chi}^2$ test and multiple logistic regression analysis using SPSS complex samples Win 25 program. According to the age of the subjects, breast cancer was 1.7% higher in women aged 50~59 years than aged 40~49 years, and 1.7% was significantly more frequent in women who had no drinking frequency than in almost everyday. Menopausal age was significantly higher in women under 44 years of age with breast cancer than in those over 50 years of age. According to menopause, postmenopausal breast cancer was 1.7% more than before menopause. When adjusted for age and alcohol drinking frequency, premenopausal adult women in Korea had significantly lower breast cancer frequency by 0.03 compared with postmenopausal women. Based on these results, it is important to pay attention to the management of breast cancer in young women aged 44 years or younger and multidisciplinary efforts are needed to reduce the ever-increasing prevalence of breast cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1155-1162
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• 2014

Background: Despite mixed survival data, the utilization of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) for the prevention of a contralateral breast cancer (CBC) has increased significantly over the last 15 years, especially among women less than 40. We set out to look at our own experience with CPM, focusing on outcomes in women less than 40, the sub-population with the highest cumulative lifetime risk of developing CBC. With an extended follow-up, we hoped to demonstrate differences in the long-term disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) among groups who underwent the procedure (CPM) versus those that did not (NCPM). Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of all breast cancer patients less than age 40 diagnosed at Mount Sinai Medical Center between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 2010 (n=481). Among these patients, 42 were identified as having undergone CPM, while 195 were confirmed as being CPM-free during the observation period. A univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: The CPM group had a significantly higher percentage of patients who were diagnosed between 2000 and 2010 (95.2% vs 40%, p=0.0001). The CPM group had significantly smaller tumors (0-2cm.: 41.7% vs 24.8%, p=0.04). Among the entire group of patients, the overall five- and 10-year DFS were 81.3% and 73.3%, respectively. CPM was significantly associated [HR 2.35 (1.02, 5.41); p=0.046] with 10-year OS, although a similar effect was not observed for five-year OS. Conclusions: We found that CPM has increased dramatically over the last 15 years, especially among white women with locally advanced disease. In patients less than 40, who are thought to be at greatest cumulative risk of secondary breast cancer, CPM provided an OS advantage, regardless of genetics, tumor or patient characteristics, and which was only seen after 10 years of follow-up.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3035-3041
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• 2016

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy of women worldwide. In the past it was considered as disease of older middle aged women, but the incidence of BC in young females is growing in recent years concordant with studies in Pakistan. In this paper, we reviewed the mutant functions of tumor suppressor genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, ATM and PTEN), epigenetic transformation and involvement of estrogen receptors in development of breast cancer. We further reviewed the current situation of BC in Pakistan that depicts a higher incidence in young females. According to SKMCH and RC data, age group 45-49 years is more prone to BC with high rate of incidence 45.42%. A few studies explored the high expression of ER, PR and HER-2/neu in Pakistani females. Moreover, presence of BRCA1 (c.1961dupA) mutation in Pakistani shows concordance with data in different areas of world. But we are unable to find an authentic study that can explore epigenetic based transformation of breast tumors in Pakistan. This area of research needs more attention to explore the complete picture of BC in Pakistan.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.397-408
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• 2001

Currently, breast cancer ranks third among women' s cancers, and as its incidence is increasing, the incidence age is also becoming lower. Therefore it is necessary to address breast cancer for women in their twenties. As there is no way presently to prevent breast cancer, it is imperative that women take available interventions against predisposing factors. It is thus advisable that women acquire the necessary skills to recognize their own health status. The purposes of this study were to identify the effects of education on breast self-examination (BSE) through supportive education among college women during the period from August 2000 to February 2001, and to attempt to design an effective BSE educational program. The first class was implemented through lectures, pamphlets, videotapes, breast palpation on cloths, demonstration and practice for identification of breast masses through palpation using breast model. Supportive education was implemented bimonthly to the experimental group, and effects of the education between experimental and control groups were compared 6 months later. The results of this study are summarized as follows: 1. The effects on supportive education of college women in BSE 1) The mean score of retained knowledge about breast cancer and BSE was 30.88 in the experimental group, and 29.66 in the control group and significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group (t= -2.062, p= 0.041). 2) Frequency of BSE practice was significantly greater in the experimental group than in the control group($\chi^2=0.045$, p=0,012). 3) The mean accuracy score in BSE practice was 19.10 in the experimental group, and 18.29 in the control group; accuracy was higher in the experimental group than in the control(t= -2.035, p= 0.444). 4) The mean score of self-efficacy was 35.05 in the experimental group, and 31.22 in the control group. The experimental group mean score was higher(t=-3.016, p=0.003). 2. There was a statistically significant correlation between self-efficacy and accuracy of BSE(r=0.447, p=0.000), knowledge of breast cancer and BSE(r= 0.306, p=0.000) and frequency of BSE(r=0,259, p=0,002) but no significant correlation between knowledge of breast cancer and BSE and frequency of BSE (r=0.071, p=0.403). On the basis of this study, periodic supportive education can increase knowledge of breast cancer and BSE, frequency of BSE, accuracy of BSE and self-efficacy. Suggestions: 1. There is a need to compare the effects of individual programs to acquire BSE behaviors in the young. 2. Further research is needed to test the continuity of the effects of BSE education.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4347-4351
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• 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer of women and the principal cause of death in middle aged women. The objective of this study was to describe the trend of breast cancer and its management in Aden and adjacent south-eastern governorates of Yemen during the last 20 years. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of previous studies on patients with breast cancer in Aden and adjacent south-eastern governorates, Yemen (January 1989 through December 2007). The studied variables were: sex, age, time and type of presentation, disease stage, pathological types and the performed surgical treatment. The sources of information were the treatment registry of Aden health office, archives of Al-Gamhouria teaching hospital; major referral and other public and private hospitals in Aden and Aden Cancer Registry. Results: The total number of patients was 476, 99% being females. The age range was 19-88 years. The most affected age was 30-50 years (60.5%), 95% presenting after one month of having breast symptoms. Forty-five percent presented with signs of advanced local disease, while 59.2% had palpable axillary lymph nodes on presentation. Early breast cancer (stages I-II) occurred in 47%, and late breast cancer (stages III-IV) in 51.5%. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the commonest pathology (89.3%). The main surgical treatment was mastectomy (modified radical mastectomy (50%). Conclusion: Breast cancer is predominantly a disease of young with late presentation and advanced disease. Improving health awareness and earlier diagnosis of the disease by health education, encouraging breast self-examination, and providing the mammography equipment and mammary clinics in hospitals are recommended. Establishment of oncology and radiotherapy centers in Aden is a necessity.