Teaching Employees Breast Self Examination

C ance r ranks second only to heart disease as a killer of American women, and breast cancer is the second largest cause of female cancer deaths following lung cancer (American Cancer Society, 1990).The American Cancer Society estimated that 150,900 new cases of breast cancer would occur in 1990 and an estimated 44,300 women in the United States would die in 1990 from cancer of the breast.With early diagnosis and treatment most women with breast cancer could be saved.The survival rate is significantly higher for women who receive treatment while the disease is still localized.According to the American Cancer Society (1990), 90% of women with localized breast cancer survive 5 years or more.Efforts should concentrate on detection since early diagnosis is the cornerstone of treatment.Breast self examination (BSE) is a method of detection that can be used by the client without cost, in her own home, and at her own convenience.Ninety percent of breast cancers are found by clients (Ludwick, 1988).Breast self examination can be taught by the occupational health nurse in the workplace to female employees interested in learning the technique. Research has shown that manyBreast self examination is a method of detection that can be used by the client without cost, in her own home, and at her own convenience.