The Effect of Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination

The training included topics such as breast anatomy; breast cancer incidence in Somalia, mortality, morbidity rates; breast cancer risk factors, importance of screening methods; The messages on breast self-examination, health belief models, breast cancer awareness, confidence for BSE, and perceived barriers/benefits for BSE were presented in a PowerPoint presentation. The procedure for performing breast self-examination was described using the English edition of Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology. In the movie, BSE was made simpler with schematics showing the breast area that needed to be covered. Simple directions on which fingers to use and how to move them over the breast were provided. After the film, the emphasis shifted to helping students gain more self-assurance in their ability to accurately complete each BSE step. Students were encouraged to use proper palpation technique to find lumps by performing a breast examination on a silicone breast model.