Awareness of female breast cancer among adult males in Mumbai, India

Background: Breast cancer is a major killer disease in females globally and in developing regions, where the early cancer detection facilities are unavailable, prognosis is even worse. Awareness about this disease can lead to early detection and thereby decrease the morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods: In a longitudinal prospective survey, 150 adult males were interviewed regarding their awareness about occurrence of breast cancer in females using a self designed and validated questionnaire. A battery of questions aiming to assess the levels of awareness of adult males regarding risk factors, signs and symptoms, importance of early detection, methods of detection, treatment options and importance of exercise were considered. Results: This study presented demographic and qualitative information about the levels of awareness about a disease that is alarmingly increasing in women population in India. The results showed that 18% of the targeted adult male population had good awareness, 45% of males had an average awareness and 37% of adult males had poor awareness about breast cancer in females with respect to the domains considered in the survey questionnaire. Conclusion: Breast cancer awareness is very low among men in a metropolitan city like Mumbai. In the absence of breast cancer screening clinics, there is a dire need to take measures to improve breast cancer awareness in men so that they can play a role in early detection of this disease and thereby improve the outcome in this disease.