Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia

Jalan Sungai Bangi, Bandar Sungai Bangi

Klang 43000, Selangor.
Tel: 603 9086 2996

Fax: 603 9019 5883

23 March 2016
TO:

Mr John Wee
Chief of Medical Officer of Breast Cancer Welfare Association
Malaysia

FROM:

Ms Nicole Wan Pui Theng

Chairperson of Undergraduate Breast Cancer Awareness Research Team

SUBJECT:

TO INVESTIGATE THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS AMONG

FEMALE UNDERGRADUATES IN MALAYSIA PRIVATE INSTITUTION

As we agreed in February, we have surveyed on 50 students for both UTAR and Sunway
students to investigate how much the female undergraduates aware about breast cancer
knowledge. Below are the findings of this study.
Response to the survey was good. 100 percent of our respondents replied to the survey.
The result shows that majority of the female undergraduates were aware about breast
cancer issues. We found out that the main platform for female undergraduates aware
about breast cancer information through mass media which is the most effective way of
bringing breast cancer awareness to the female undergraduate such as internet,
newspaper, television, radio and billboard.
Based on the findings of the survey, we recommend that private institution can organize a
breast cancer awareness campaign for the students from different gender as well as
faculties. For example, UTAR and Sunway University can strongly encourage the female
undergraduates go for medical checkup. Besides, both university should corporate with
medical center or hospital to obtain the offer or free checkup for the female students as
well as female staff to get a free and discount price breast checkup from these health care
center.
We would appreciate your feedback and any suggestions after reading this report. If you
would like me to discuss the results with the Committee members, please inform me.

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
TABLES
1. Numbersofrespondentsonthefactorsthatmay
leadtobreastcancer(N=50)

17

FIGURES
1. Howoftenundergraduatesfemalein
Malaysiahavebreastexamination

19

2. Nonsurgicalwaytocurebreastcancer

21

3. Thenumberofundergraduateswhoare
awareofbreastcancerprevention.

22

4. Theundergraduatesfemalereceivedinformationabout
breastcancerawarenessfromdifferenttypeofmassmedia.

23

5. Indicatorofinfluenceinbetteringwomenshealthcare

25

6. Involvementoffamilyinimprovementofmentalhealthcare.

27

7. Are doctors putting in effort into making

healthcare for women better.

--28

Executive Summary
Our group decided to do a survey among on awareness of breast cancer. We
choose undergraduate female student as our target audience. This is to investigate how
much they know about breast cancer and understand why breast cancer patients are
getting younger and younger.
Research has shown most of the youngster today rely on social media a lot. There
is a lot of new medical treatment to cure breast cancer that hardly known by today's
women. Although government and NGO had done with lots of campaign, women today
still will ignore the critical about breast cancer. Therefore, we choose 50 undergraduate
female students from Sunway University and UTAR to determine the main problems. We
had used both stratified and random sampling on our survey. There is over 90 percent of
respondents feedback. From the survey, 85 percent of respondents are not clear about the
reason for getting breast cancer. Our survey strongly shows new treatment were not
familiar among our respondents. Besides, we also realized most of the respondents rely
on social media a lot. Based on the results, government and NGO should put more efforts
on promoting new treatment on breast cancer. On the other hand, the most important are
to broadcast the news through social media so that most of the women today could easily
receive the latest news.

Chapter 1: Introduction
Title:
Breast cancer awareness among female undergraduates in Malaysian private
institution.
1.0 Introduction
Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia has conducted a study on the
awareness of breast cancer among female undergraduates in Malaysia. The purpose of
this study is to raise awareness among female undergraduates on breast cancer. It is to
educate them of how their actions can affect the probability of getting breast cancer. This
study is also aimed to educate female undergraduates on the preventions and new cures of
breast cancer.
2.0 Background
Breast cancer is a common dieses among women yet many women are unaware of
its symptoms. More than 45% of the universities are populated by female undergraduates,
where many of them are unaware of the preventions and cure of breast cancer. This is due
to the lack of physical information available to them. There are a few reasons as to why
they lack information, the most common reason is that the information provided are not
complete. It lacks the information why women are prone to breast cancer and how to
avoid it. Many female undergraduates do not understand the need to know about such
prevention and cure method because it is believed to be hereditary. Female
undergraduates could learn more in talks on how women can get breast cancer and how to
4

avoid breast cancer. Flyers and booths providing information is also an effective way of
letting female undergraduates know how to avoid breast cancer. Events and activities on
breast cancer will increase the knowledge of undergraduates.
3.0 Statement of Problem
The increasing number of female undergraduates that are unaware of breast
cancer.
4.0 Purpose of the Study
To analyse and investigate to what extent female undergraduates of private
institution in Malaysia are aware of breast cancer and its treatment.
5.0 Objectives
1. To identify to what extent women are aware of breast cancer.
2. To look at how the media influences the awareness among female undergraduates.
3. To find the role society has played in improving womens health care.
6.0 Research Questions
1. To what extent are female undergraduates aware of breast cancer?
2. How can media influence the breast cancer awareness among female
undergraduates of private institutions in Malaysia?
3. Does the society improve womens healthcare that has required scientific and
technical breakthrough?

7.0 Significance of study

From this study we are able to show female undergraduates to what extent they
are knowledgeable about breast cancer. We are also able to identify the role of society and
media in instilling the vast knowledge and information about breast cancer among
females in Malaysia.
8.0 Scope
This study is meant to provide information to decrease the numbers of full-time
Malaysian private university undergraduate women who are unaware of breast cancer,
from the age of 18 to 23.
9.0 Limitation
There are some unavoidable limitations. Firstly, because of the time and cost
limit, this research is conducted on a small scale of undergraduate women. Therefore, the
research should have involved more participants of different levels. Second, the
distribution of the questionnaire about breast cancer awareness is to increases the
knowledge of breast cancer but it wasnt enough to convince female undergraduates to
take precautions. Lastly, culture and bias views effect the result of this study on female
undergraduates and there is a need of positive words and statements to probe a positive
result.

Chapter 2: Literature Review

Media is a very important tool for everyone nowadays, so now we can see that how
Media influence the breast cancer awareness.
The social media playing roles in changing the public understanding of many
health issues, and pass to the public through media clearly influences behavior. According
to Pew Research Center (2015) shown that starting in 2009, women started using social
media at slightly higher rates than men. Those who have attended at least some college
are more likely than those with a high school diploma or less to use social media, a trend
that has been consistent since 2005. In that year, 4% of those with a high school diploma
or less used social media, along with 8% of those who attended some college and 12% of
college graduates. Besides, Social media could educate the undergraduate female to
increase the knowledge and information level about breast cancer diseases. According to
a research conducted by Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness & Education Project(2013)
shows that the majority of respondents(61.6%) reported that media and marketing
advertisements (Television, Radio, Print Publication and others) were the most effect
awareness strategies to reach undergraduate women whereas (3.4%) reported social
media(twitter, facebook and others) result has increasing compared to the past.
However, the public in Malaysia now view the media as an important sources of
information about the health issues and print media such as newspaper is one of the most
common and effective sources of information(Meissner et al., 1992; Moyer et al., 1995;
Kreps, 2003) to educate the undergraduate women in Malaysia. According to the study on
2011 by Redhwan and Karim, claims that current new theme which noticed in 2007 and
never mentioned in the past were awareness hypnosis before breast surgery, support
group for breast cancer survivors and misconception about breast cancer. This research is
7

to shows the undergraduate female are prefer to read news about breast cancer through
newspaper. (Al-Naggar RA., Jashamy AK,2011, pg1) Besides, the research conducted by
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM shows that 50.9% of the respondents had
increase a high knowledge of the breast cancer screening and majority of the respondents
think that the mass media as a major source of information on breast cancer. Thus, Heath
Ministry of Malaysia should educate the knowledge by using mass media platform.
Hence, in our research, we are researching on media influence the breast cancer
awareness among the undergraduate female of private institution in Malaysia and find out
how media educate them by using mass media.
By using social media, it can also help to promote the new development women
healthcare to the publics.
There are new treatments for breast cancer being researched in the market by
doctors to find a more effective ways to cure breast cancer. A study that was conducted by
Katharine Yao for the National Data Base shows that 12% of women with breast cancer
in 2012 had both their breast removed even though only one had cancer cells in them
.This will not reduce their chances of the cancer cell spreading. According to Siobhan
OConnor in the times, new tools have been created to treat breast cancer. According to
the times writer a test called oncotype DX is now available to help doctors check if a
patient will react positively to chemotherapy and help the doctors decide if it the best
treatment for the patient. Another type of test called, oncotype DX DCIS shows how
prone is a patient prone to reoccurrence. However, it is not proven yet that these test work
on breast cancer patients. Doctor Yao is still looking for participants who are suitable for

testing. In our research, we are looking at how the society, doctors are helping better the
healthcare for women.
All the new development women healthcare can help the publics to create a higher
Awareness of Breast Cancer.
According to the research done by World Cancer Research Fund International,
there are almost 1.7million new breast cancer case diagnosed. (2012) Currently, numbers
of breast cancer patients in the United States started reducing in the year 2000 after
increasing for last two decades. They have dropped 7% from 2000 to 2003.
(BreastCancer.org, n.d.) The United States had awareness about breast cancer much
earlier compared with others countries.
However, the awareness in Malaysian on breast cancer only started in the early
nineties. (Dahlui M., Ramli S., & Bulgiba AM, 2011, pg 1) Abdul Aziz, N. et al. (2014)
carried out a research which conducted 1192 women in Malaysia, only 12.7% of
them,151 people get high score of breast cancer knowledge, 49.1% (585 people) get
average score and up to 38.3% (456 people) of them get a very poor score. There are only
14.1% of respondents out of these 1192 women had a mammogram screening before.
Hassan, N. et al. (2015) noted that lack of consciousness at risk and the dread of painful
on X-ray breast screening is the most general obstruction on enhancing Malaysias
womens awareness towards breast cancer. Besides that, womens education level is the
key that determined their knowledge of breast cancer. Breast cancer awareness of women
in rural areas could be enhanced by putting more effort to educate them. (Abdul Aziz N.
et al., 2013) Therefore, in our research, we are conducting a thorough research on the

awareness of breast cancer among undergraduate females in the private university in

Malaysia and to identify the extent that they are aware of breast cancer.
By creating awareness to the publics we can also provide the publics about the
information of what Prevention of Breast Cancer the publics can do.
According to most of the data we get from different sources, Breast cancer is one
of the most common cancer in women. Breast cancer is a cancer that made by breast
tissues and out of eight women there be one women will get breast cancer. The factor of
getting this include obesity, drinking alcohol, smoking, female sex and many other
factors. Nowadays the risk of a woman getting breast cancer is getting higher and higher
compare to the old days. Breast cancer prevention is the action taken to decrease the
chance of developing cancer. . (Jennifer ,2015) . Prevention of breast cancer is of
paramount importance. We doesnt want to watch our loved one beside us confront breast
cancer because it is very scary. Many of the epidemiological studies have suggested that
the critical to prevent breast cancer and the dietary fat which is the most intensively
studied dietary factors which related to the risk ,is too having a healthy diet and lifestyle.
(DUOLI , 2013) For those women who has family history with breast cancer they should
go for breast cancer screening to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer screening
in recommendation level have one important thing which is weight will attributed to
harmful effects ,if false positive cases it will be exceeding harmful.(MIWAKO ,2014) But
according to the Malaysia breast cancer control programme, they doesnt think that there
are any harmful effects to the women. They offer cancer screening to women who
utilized health facilities with a very low cost which is RM1. However, there is no proven
yet that these breast screening is very harmful to women but we can know that breast
10

cancer screening it really helps women reduce cancer risk. There are many doctor are is
still looking on to this issues. So ,in our research, we are looking at how the society,
government and doctors are helping the women to reduce the breast cancer risk and
distribute how to prevent breast cancer information to the publics .
Beside the ways of prevention, we can also give more information to the publics like the
Technology Advancement on Curing Breast Cancer.
According to research by Breast Cancer Organization (2015) a woman get older,
the opportunity she get breast cancer is higher compare to the young. In the past 10 years,
breast cancer could be cure through surgery or chemotherapy. ML Huang et al mention
screening is one of the technologies we have today and needed to improve. Screening
breast cancer could help the patient to get the right treatment immediately and also do
prevention before tumours grow. The paper also shows three disadvantages of screening,
which is false positive, over diagnosis and overtreatment. Michael. S(2014) introduces a
nonsurgical way to remove tumours for breast cancer patients. Michael. S (2014) said the
surgery could be done using laser to produce a form of heat and burn the tumours
immediately inside the body. Although this laser treatment is easier and done without
leaving scars, it can only be done for young patients that on an earlier stage of breast
cancer. The biggest tumours that removed are small than 2cm.Michael. S (2014) shown
another type of nonsurgical way to cure breast cancer. Placing a cryoprobe at the centre
of a tumour performs it. A cryoprobe is a high pressure, closed-loop gas expansion
system.

Chapter 3: Methodology/ Procedures

11

This study is using questionnaires to collect data. Our questionnaires consisted of

18 close-ended questions and 2 open ended questions. The questionnaire was separated
into 4 sections, which are demographic, general questions, specific questions and openended questions to obtain their level of awareness of breast cancer.
The respondents 25 female undergraduates from University Tunku Abdul Rahman
and 25 female undergraduates from Sunway University. Each Both random and stratified
sampling was used in obtaining data. Stratified sampling was chosen because only two
Universities was chosen and the focus was only on female undergraduates. Female
undergraduates were randomly selected at the main entrance of the University to answer
the questionnaire.
The data collected were analyzed using descriptive data analysis.

25

questionnaires were distributed to each University. All 50 questionnaires were answered.

The accuracy of the questionnaires were 100%. Raw data was designed to get the
accuracy of the respondents percentage for each and every question.

Chapter 4: Findings and Analysis

12

Introduction
A survey was conducted to study the level of awareness of breast cancer among
female undergraduates. There were 25 Malaysian female undergraduates from Sunway
University and 25 Malaysian female undergraduates from University Tunku Abdul
Rahman who responded to the survey. In reference to the methodology we distributed the
survey to respondent who meet out criteria. Below are the findings of this study in
relations to our research question.
Research Question 1: To what extent are female undergraduates aware of breast
cancer?
The findings for the above research question are as follow:
Table 1: Numbers of respondents on the factors that may lead to breast cancer (N=50)
Factors

Numbers of Respondents

Stress

38

Genetics
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Smoking
Drinking Alcohol

34
28
15
12

Weight Issue
Lack of Fruits and Vegetables
Antiperspirant
Moderate Sun Exposure

12
6
3
2

*Respondents could choose multiples factors

Table 1 shows the number of respondents on the factors that may lead to breast
cancer.
Overall there are nine factors that may lead to breast cancer listed in this table,
namely stress, genetics, hormone replacement therapy,

13

smoking, drinking alcohol,

weight issue, lack of fruits and vegetables, antiperspirant and moderate sun exposure.
Over nine factors, stress got the highest rank. There are 38 people feel that stress is the
issue that causes breast cancer. According to the table, the second higher factors that may
lead to breast cancer is genetics, and the difference between stress and genetics can be
moderately seen by 4 respondents. Out of 50 peoples, 28 of them felt that hormone
replacement therapy might cause breast cancer and there is a significant decrease when it
comes to smoking, only 15 of the respondents choose it as a factor. There are both 12
respondents felt drinking alcohol and weight issue could lead to breast cancer. There is
only slightly different between lack of fruits and vegetables and antiperspirant, which 6
respondents choose lack of fruits and vegetables and 3 respondents choose antiperspirant.
Moderate sun exposures got the lowest rank with only 2 people choose it as one of the
factors.
The reason that most of the people choose stress might because stress is the most
related things with us in our life and as we all know, stressful will bring negative impact
to our health. Besides that, least of respondents choosing moderate sun exposure because
as a basic knowledge, moderate sun exposure will create vitamin D and it is good for our
health.
Actually theres no evidence shown that stress will lead to breast cancer, the
factors that would increase the risk of developing breast cancer is genetics, hormone
replacement therapy, lack of fruits and vegetables, drinking alcohol, smoking and weight
issue, whereas stress, moderate sun exposure and antiperspirant will not lead to breast
cancer. As Abdul Aziz, N. et al. (2014) research, the awareness of breast cancer of
Malaysia women in rural area is not very high. The knowledge of breast cancer of
14

undergraduates female is not enough too, they should read more articles or consult their
doctors in order to know more about breast cancer.
4

10
Never

No specific duration

Annually

36

Figure 1.2: How often undergraduates female in Malaysia have breast examination

Figure 1 shows that how often undergraduates female in Malaysia do breast selfexamination, clinical examination or mammography screening.
There are 3 components in this pie chart, which are annually, no specific duration
and never. As we can see, there is a significant majority of undergraduates female, 72%
of them did not do breast examination before. 20% of undergraduates female will have
breast examination, but they wont check it in specific duration and the differences
between the percentage of undergraduates female that never examine their breast and
examine their breast but no specific duration can be obviously seen by 52% decreases.
Only 4% of undergraduates female did annually check-up for their breast.
The reason of the majority of undergraduates female do not do breast examination
is because of they are lack of information and it this could cause them fear about it and
this could be linked to Hassan, N. et al. (2015) research that found out lack of
15

consciousness at risk and the dread of painful on X-ray breast screening is the most
general obstruction on enhancing Malaysias womens awareness towards breast cancer.
On the other hand, undergraduates female is all busying on their study, time constrain is a
reason that stop them from breast examination too. The price of having clinical
examinations and mammography screening might be too high for a undergraduates
female, and some of them might think that theyre too young to have breast check-up
because their chances to get breast cancer is too low.
In conclusion, approximately three quarters of the respondents did not do breast
examination before, they are not aware of it. To raise their awareness, society should
work together to give them more information to them in order to make them prevent of
breast cancer.

Nonsurgical Way
Others ; 4%
High Intensity focused ultra-sonography ; 8%
Screening ; 14%
Never Heard Before ; 56%
Laser Theraphy ; 18%

Figure 1.3: Nonsurgical way to cure breast cancer

Figure 3 shows the latest nonsurgical way to cure breast cancer.
16

There will be 5 elements in the graph above, which is never heard before, laser
therapy, screening, high intensity focused ultra-sonography and others. From the graph
above, we can see a significant different that there is more than half of the female student
never heard before about nonsurgical way towards curing breast cancer. Most of them
only know through surgical way to remove the bad tumors. 18 percent of them heard
before Laser Therapy, which is the most common way to cure breast cancer today. While
Screening had a slightly different with Laser Therapy which occupied 14%. High
Intensity focused Ultra-sonography is the second lowest that took 8%. The lowest is other
which took 4% out of 100.
The reason of why most of the students are not familiar with the nonsurgical way
to cure breast cancer is that hospital or even government doesn't spread the news
frequently. Besides, all the nonsurgical way still come with negative side effect.
Therefore is not recommend by most of the doctors. On the other hand, these nonsurgical
ways could only help to remove small tumors which less that 2cm. According to
Micheal.S (2014), the biggest tumors that removed are small than 2cm.
All of all, in the world there will be one woman getting breast cancer out of eight.
It is a serious issue that government and women should look forward to. Besides, the
nonsurgical ways to cure breast cancer were still under developing, government should
reimburse in order to help the relevant units to develop faster and advance.

17

Research Question 2: How can media influence the breast cancer awareness among
female undergraduates of private institutions in Malaysia?
The finding for the above research question is as the following:

2%

Yes

No

98%

Figure 2.1: The number of media user among female undergraduate

The chart above shows the numbers of female undergraduates who are media user.
18

There are only two components in this chart which are Yes and No. Overall, the
chart shows the number and percentage of respondent that chose Yes and No in this study.
Based on the chart, there are 49 respondents which is 98% has choose Yes and 1
respondents which is 2 % of the chart have chosen No. Based on the chart, we can see
that most of the female undergraduate are media users. This can related back to the
literature review where there is a chain reaction occurs when the female undergraduate
are aware about breast cancer prevention through mass media. When the more female
undergraduate are the media users the more they aware of breast cancer issues through
mass media.
These can be related back to the literature review where Pew Research Center
(2015) shown that starting in 2009, women started using social media at slightly higher
rates than men. Those who have attended at least some college are more likely than those
with a high school diploma or less to use social media, a trend that has been consistent
since 2005.

19

30
25
20
15
number of respondents

10
5
0

Figure 2.2: The female undergraduates received information about breast cancer
awareness from different type of mass media.

The chart shows the undergraduates female received information about breast
cancer awareness from different type of mass media. The chart consists of the number of
the respondent in x-axis and level of income in y-axis. Generally, the chart shows the
number of undergraduate female that they have seen and heard about breast cancer in
each type of media advertisements. Based on the chart, there are 25 respondents which
received breast cancer information from internet, making it the highest in the chart. The
number of respondent who received information through newspaper are 18 people which
consist the second highest of media advertisement. The following mass media would be
the television and radio. The undergraduate female received information from television
are more than radio. The television consist of 17 respondents whereas the radio are least
than television at 12 respondents are received from radio.

The least amount of

respondents in this study will be the others which there are only 2 respondents answered.
20

The information received by the undergraduate female from any mass media
about breast cancer awareness has been divided is related in literature review where. AlNaggar RA., Jashamy AK, 2011 claimed in this research that the undergraduate female
are prefer to read news about breast cancer through mass media like newspaper and
internet. In this study, 50 of respondents are divided into 6 groups which are internet,
newspaper, television, radio, billboard, and others based on their preferable by using
mass media to aware about the breast cancer information are affected in the analysis
based on the research.

Talks, Workshop and Campaign

Facebook, Twitter and E-newsletter

Types of media platform

Newspaper,Books,Magazine and Journals

Television and Radio

0

10 20 30 40

Number of respondents

Figure 2.3: The types of media platform that female undergraduates prefer to obtain
information about breast cancer awareness.

21

The graph shows the female undergraduates chosen their most preferable platform
to obtain information about breast cancer awareness.
The graph consists of the number of respondent in x-axis whereas the y-axis
shows the types of media platform that the respondents prefer. Generally, the graph
shows the number of female undergraduate that they prefer to choose the media platform
that helps them to obtain the relevant information about breast cancer awareness. Based
on the graph, there are 38 respondents making it the highest in the graph which prefer
Facebook, twitter and e-newsletter to obtain breast cancer awareness information whereas
there are 14 respondents prefer newspaper, book, magazine and journals to know about
the awareness of breast cancer which less than the respondents who prefer on Facebook,
Twitter, and E-newsletter. Besides, the number of respondents who prefer television and
radio are 26 people which consist the second highest of the types of media platform that
they prefer. The following media platform that the female undergraduate prefer the most
to obtain information about breast cancer awareness are through talks, workshop and
campaign. Talks, workshop, and campaign consist of 20 respondents who prefer these
media platform could bring information of breast cancer awareness.
Short say, the previous theory by Team Shan Breast Cancer Awareness &
Education Project (2013) sustains and is applicable in this study. As media platform was
reported that media and marketing advertisements as well as social media to promote
awareness such as information of breast cancer awareness were the most effect awareness
strategies to reach undergraduate women. The overall on choosing their preferable media
platform which will help to increase their awareness as well as their knowledge about the

22

breast cancer issues and become the key contributing factor to widening breast cancer
awareness gap.

Research Question 3: Does the society improve womens healthcare that has
required scientific and technical breakthrough?
The finding for the above research question is as the following:

23

School
14%

20%

Government&NGO

34%
34%

22%

10%

Types pf Roles

34%
32%

20%
24%

Doctors

44%

12%
12%
8%
16%

Family

0%

10%

64%
20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Percentage of respondents
Most influential

2nd most influential

3rd most influential

Column1

Figure 3.1: Indicator of influence in bettering womens healthcare

Figure 3.1 shows the ranks of influential people in making a difference in

womens health care.
The four factors that make up the chart above are families, doctors, government
&NGO and schools. 64% of the respondents believe that families are the most crucial
factor when it comes to making women health care better. 44% of respondents has said
doctors are the second most influential people. 34% of the respondents believe that
schools and the government & NGO have the same influential power when it comes to
womens health care.
Families are said to have the most influential because they are the closest to the
patient and will be able to provide most information in help to make the healthcare
24

70%

system better. The second most influential person according to the respondents is doctors
as they are the ones who knows most scientifically about breast cancer and will be able to
take and make necessary decisions. This can be related back to the journal where it states
that doctors are coming up with new researches to find a new treatment Government &
NGO and schools have the same influencing power when it comes to healthcare as they
will only able to educate on preventions and not actually influence healthcare directly.
In conclusion the respondents see families and doctors as more influential people
compared to government & NGO and schools.

12%

Yes

No

88%

Figure 3.2: Involvement of family in improvement of mental health care.

Figure 3.2 shows if family is involved in bettering the mental healthcare for
breast cancer patients.
There is only two components in the pie chart which are yes, family is
involved in the bettering of mental healthcare and no, Family is not involved. The
25

majority of the female undergraduate is seen to believe family does play a part in
bettering the mental healthcare of breast cancer patients, which is 88% (44) of the
respondents. The other 12% (6) of respondents believe that family has nothing to do with
the bettering of mental healthcare for breast cancer patients. The majority of female
undergraduate respondents believes that the families of breast cancer patients do play a
role a bettering the mental healthcare as the patients of breast cancer spend most of their
time with their families and the families are able to understand the patients better, thus
the families will be able to help institutes and doctors understand patients better and make
treatments more effective. In conclusion, more than three quarter of the respondents
believe that families do play a vital role in making the mental healthcare system better.

26

30%

Yes

No

70%

Figure 3.3: Are doctors putting in effort into making healthcare for women better.

Figure 3.3 shows if the female undergraduate respondents believe doctors are
putting in effort into upgrading womens healthcare.
There are two main factors in the chart above which are yes doctors are putting
in effort into making the healthcare for women better and no doctors are not. 70% of the
respondents have stated that doctors are putting in effort to make womens healthcare
better where the other 30% of the respondents do not believe that doctors are putting in
active effort into in welfare of womens healthcare.
The 70% of respondents have come to believe effort is being made to make
healthcare for women better because they have seen many doctors endeavouring a cure
or better treatments for breast cancer trough posters and doctor appointments where they
have been told about new preventions and treatments. These 35 respondents have come to
27

believe in the efforts made by doctors also because they believe with the advance in
technology doctors who are active in research and development are able to find new cures
and treatments for breast cancer this can be linked to Breast cancer overtreatment,
(2012) . 3 out of 35 despondence have come to believe that most action taken into
bettering the healthcare for women is mostly done by doctors overseas and not local
doctors.
The other 30% of female undergraduate respondents do not believe that
doctors are taking action when it comes to bettering the healthcare for women because
they have not seen any signs and havent heard any news in new development or finding
of breast cancer treatment. These 15 respondents also believe that doctors are too
occupied with other things to be actively looking for cures or new treatment. 2 out of
these 15 respondents have come to conclude that doctors do not look for new cures as it
would be easier to earn a living with the current cures and treatments.
In conclusion more than half of the respondents believe that doctors are putting
in effort to better the healthcare for women.

28

Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendations

Conclusion
Based on the research results, 98% of undergraduate females are aware of breast
cancer. We can see that most of the female undergraduates are aware of breast cancer
prevention through media. This can be related back to the literature review where a chain
reaction occurs when female undergraduates are aware about breast cancer prevention
through mass media. Mass media is an important platform that allows female
undergraduate to received information about breast cancer and 50% of them think that the
internet is the best platform for them to keep up with breast cancer because the internet is
so convenient. Most people think stress causes breast cancer because stress is something
most of us can relate to when it comes to our daily life, stress brings negative impact to
our health. Through the study we also know that 72% of the female undergraduates never
did breast cancer examination, 20 % of them did not have a specific duration for the
examination and the other 8% did it annually. According to the questionnaire, we can see
that 56% of female undergraduate never heard of non-surgical ways to cure breast
cancer.18 % of them have heard of Laser Therapy, which is the most common way to
cure breast cancer today. The reason being most students lack information when it comes
to nonsurgical cures to breast cancer. 64% of the respondents believe that families are the
most crucial factor when it comes to making women health care better. The student thinks
that families plays a vital role in making the mental health care system better. 35
respondents believe that doctors are putting in effort to make healthcare better this is due
to the advancement in technology, doctors who are active in research and development
are able to find new cures and treatments for breast cancer.
29

Recommendation
According to the literature review, World Cancer Research Fund International,
there are almost 1.7million new breast cancer case diagnosed. (2012) Currently, numbers
of breast cancer patients in many countries started reducing in the year 2000 after
increasing for last two decades. Therefore, our research group will recommend of the
university and college to create talks and campaign that are related to breast cancer in the
campus to let the female undergraduates increase in awareness about breast cancer
because many female undergraduates are concern about breast cancer but they do not
know where to start gathering knowledge. In the talk or campaign, campuses should
provide more information on breast cancer such as breast cancer examinations because
most female undergraduates does not carry out breast cancer examination and it is
important to let them know the importance of breast cancer examination.
Besides that, Universities and colleges can invite some breast cancer survivors to
share their experience with female undergraduates to make them more aware of breast
cancer and its preventions. Awareness campaigns play an important role in the prevention
of deaths in the community, so campuses should be encouraged to do more in order to
help the female undergraduates know more about breast cancer.

30

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Appendix A: Raw Data Survey

33

N=50

1. How old are you?

18-20

30 (60%)

21-23

20 (40%)

24 and above

0 (0%)

2. What is your education level?

3. Are you media user?

Foundation / Diploma

13 (26%)

Degree

37 (74%)

Yes

49 (98%)

No

1 (2%)

4. Are you aware of breast cancer preventions?

Yes

33 (66%)

No

17 (34%)

5. Which of the following factors that may lead to breast cancer?

(Can choose more than one option)
Moderate Sun Exposure

2 (4%)

Stress

38 (76%)

Hormone Replacement Therapy

28 (56%)

Genetics

34 (68%)

Anti-per spirant

3 (6%)

Lack of fruits and Vegetables

6 (12%)

Drinking Alcohol

12 (24%)

Smoking

15 (30%)

Weight Issues

12 (24%)

34

6. Do you think it is possible to dramatically decrease your risks of developing

breast cancer with simple changes?
Yes

40 (80%)

No

10 (20%)

7. Which of the following may decrease the risks of developing breast cancer?
(You can choose more than one option)
Sufficient sleep

38 (76%)

Breast feeding

16 (32%)

Having children before 30yrs old

10 (20%)

Physical Exercise

36 (72%)

Being on hormonal pills

7 (14%)

Hormone Replacement Therapy

10 (20%)

Decrease consume alcoholic drinks

21 (42%)

Decrease smoking

23 (46%)

8. How often you do breast self-examination, clinical examination or mammography

screening?
4 (8%)

Annually

10 (20%)

No specific duration
Never. Why : 4 ( 8% ) Money Constrain
8 (16% ) Time Constrain
14 (28% ) Lack of information
8

(16%) Fear

(4% ) Others

9. Have you notice any advertisements on breast cancer local media?

35

Yes
No

26 (52%)
( Proceed to Q11)

24 (48%)

10. From where have you received information about breast cancer awareness?
(You can choose more than one option)
Television

17 (34%)

Radio

12 (24%)

Newspaper

18 (36%)

Billboards

6 (12%)

Internet

25 (50%)

Others

2 (4%)

11. Do you believe social media is an effective platform to spread awareness?

Yes
46 (92%)
No

(8%)

12. Which platform do you prefer the most to obtain information about breast cancer?
Television and Radio

26 (52%)

Newspaper, Books, Magazine and Journals.

14 (28%)

Facebook, Twitter and E-newsletter

38 (76%)

Talks, Workshop and Campaign

20 (40%)

Others

0 (0%)

13. Which type of ambassador through mass media will influence your knowledge on
breast cancer?
(You can choose more than one option)
Breast cancer survivors

36 (72%)
36

Celebrity breast cancer survivors

34 (68%)

Celebrity without breast cancer

2 (4%)

Doctors

18 (36%)

14. Are you aware of new breast cancer treatments?

Yes

8 (16%)

No ( Proceed to Q16)

42 (84%)

15. Which Breast Cancer treatment that you are aware of?
(Can choose more than one option)
Chinese Herbal Medicine

2 (4%)

Radiation Therapy

4 (8%)

Surgery

7 (7%)

Targeted Therapies

1 (2%)

Chemotherapy

2 (4%)

Hormonal Therapy

4 (8%)

16. Have you heard of any nonsurgical ablation for breast cancer?
High- Intensity focused ultra-sonography

4 (8%)

Screening

7 (14%)

Laser Therapy

9 (18%)

Others: Operation

2 (4%)

Never heard before

28 (56%)

37

17. Which character in your life plays a role in making you aware of breast cancer?
(Please rate 1-5, 1 = most important, 5 = not very important)
Family

1.68

Doctors

2.52

Government and NGOs

2.92

School

2.86

18. Does family play a role in improving mental health care for breast cancer
patients?
Yes

43 (86%)

No

7 (14%)

19. Do you believe that doctors are putting in effort into bettering the health care for
women? Why?
Yes35 (70%)
38

Posters for trial treatment

Introduction of new prevention
Advanced technology
Personal Experiences with doctors
No

10 (20%)
9 (18%)
14 (28%)
2 (4%)

15 (30%)

No news about advancement

Doctors prioritise money
Lack of time and funds

10 (20%)
4 (8%)
1 (2%)

20. In your opinion, what can society do to improve women healthcare?

Campaigns
24 (48%)
Sharing sessions/ Talks
11 (22%)
Being open minded
4 (8%)
Free body check up
9 (18%)
Write ups
2 (4%)

39