Cognition of breast cancer among gestational age Turkish women: a cross-sectional study.

The aim of the study is to describe the cognition of breast cancer with respect to knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and behavior in a group of gestational age Turkish women. A questionnaire survey was therefore performed on 201 randomly selected women registered to the health database in Aydin. In age, marital status, and occupation were found to significantly impact on breast self-examination (BSE) performance, which should still be considered as an important tool for early diagnosis, although it does not substitute clinical examination and education. As delayed diagnosis is the leading problem in the management of disease, well-structured education should be supported to increase awareness of breast cancer. Given to the remarkable role of nurses in the community on women's health, a more focused approach on education of young female populations by nurses in Turkey should be considered.