Breast cancer: Awareness and risk factors in college-going younger age group women in Rajasthan.

OBJECTIVES To determine awareness about breast cancer and its risk factors. STUDY DESIGN Community based prospective cross sectional analysis. SETTING College-going younger age group women of Rajasthan, with women's knowledge about breast cancer, risk factors, treatment, detection and preventive modalities as main outcome measures. RESULTS All the respondents had heard of breast cancer. Awareness about breast mass/lump to be cardinal symptom of breast cancer was true for 65% of respondents. The main early diagnostic modality mammography was known by 19% of respondents while 49% aware about ultrasonography. Some 28% of the women were not aware about self breast examination. CONCLUSIONS Women do have knowledge deficits about breast cancer and various related factors.