JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

#80 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City

Breast Cancer awareness of 3rd year college students of Jose Rizal University from 18 to 30 years
of age. SY: 2013-2014

A Research Paper
In a Partial Fulfillment of the requirement for English 12-Reading, Writing and Research Skills

Submitted By:
Zea Mae Navarra
Pamela Denise Sunga
Lyn Sy De Jesus
Jocelyn Manansala
Bernadette Manuel
First Year BSBA major in Banking and Finance-101F

Submitted to:
Dr. Herminia David

Acknowledgement
We, the researchers, would like to express our sincere gratitude for those people who
helped us for the accomplishment of the research study.
First, we would like to acknowledge Dr. Herminia David, our English professor for her
support, guidance and advise to be inspired for working this research.
Second, the selected students of Jose Rizal University whose gave us information related
to our topic/research.
Lastly, our almighty God and also our parents to support us to be patient, determined,
strong and have faith, for continuously learning and worked hard of it.
-The Researchers

Abstract
In this probation, everyone should be aware on their health especially on their body, and
also to become more attentive when it comes to cancer particularly breast cancer. Because, it can
subject either male or female with the ages of 18-30 years old, thats the time when the disease is
onset. Theres nothing to lose in the future readers for being aware. In fact, this may help you in
the near future in case anyone is undergoing breast cancer but hoping that theres no one who
will have that disease.
The researchers knew that when breast cancer was talked by male they seem intimidated
because they think that it can only brought to female. But its not, of course female has the higher
rate compare to male but still it can victimized male. So to sum up this, all of us may affect from
this case. Even male or female. We can't say what our health has been going on. Just prepare and
think what is the best way to save our health, our community and to our future.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page...

Acknowledgement.

Abstract

Table of Contents.

....

Background of the Study.............................................

Statement of the Problem

Chapter I

Hypothesis..

Scope and Limitations.. .. 8

Definition of Terms........

Chapter II
Review of Related Literature......... 10
Synthesis.. 14
4

Chapter III
Methodology.. 14

Chapter IV
Findings & Analysis of Data

19

Chapter V
Conclusion 21
Recommendation.

22

References.

23

Appendix 24
..

25

CHAPTER I
The Problem and Its Background
Background of the study
Nowadays, the level of the breast cancer is increasing according to survey. The most
affected in this case, is about 18-30 years of age. The question is,are we aware of that?

Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women our mothers, sisters, friends,
coworkers and neighbors can develop breast cancer. We're not presenting this statistic to scare
you we know women are plenty scared about breast cancer already. We're presenting them
because we want you to know advances in diagnosis, treatment and care; people diagnosed with
breast cancer are living longer and better than ever.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops from breast cells, estrogen and
progesterone Breast cancer usually starts off in the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that
supply them with milk and will eventually spread to other parts of the body. Abreast cancer
generated in lobules is known as lobular carcimona, one that developed from ducts is called
ductal carcimona. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get too.

Problem
In the beginning of this study, there are some questions developed in our mind and it
will be fulfill at the end of this study. When it comes to this case, it is very reasonable to give
attention. Yet, the questions come out.

Is there a particular gender that can be affected by breast cancer?

What will be the percentage of the students who are aware in comes to breast cancer?
Presently, are the students giving importance to their health?

Hypothesis
There is no significance between male and female 3 rd year college student regards to
breast cancer awareness.

Significance of the Study

The importance of this case, how are we aware to the breast cancer matters and the
possible cure for that case. Also the prevention and to reduce the number of affected especially
for the focused age of this cancer is about 18 to 30 years old, men or women.

Students- It will help the students to have knowledge about having breast cancer, and by this,
they can easily detect if they have the signs and symptoms on their body about breast cancer.
Also they will become aware about the possible and fast cure because they detect it earlier than it
would be.

Parent- It will help the parents to pursue their children to relate from this study and serve as an
eye opener for their health in the future.

Doctor- It will help the doctors to have more income. Aside from that, it can also serve as the
primary factor of the decreasing rate of breast cancer victims. Because the people will go to the
doctor to have their treatments.

Community- It will act as the starting point wherein the community will become part of the
breast cancer awareness, so that the people living inside the community will have the knowledge
of having breast cancer and best recovery it can bring.

Future researchers- The research will be great help to researchers that plans to make future
studies about breast cancer.

Scope and Limitations

The coverage of the research will be 3 rd year college student of Jose Rizal University
focused on 18 to 30 years of age. For the purpose of the research, the researchers will conduct a
survey to 50 respondents from 3rd year students of JRU to get their awareness level about breast
cancer.
The research will not include other levels of the students except 3 rd year college in the
study. And it will not focus on other cancer, related disease but breast cancer.

Definition of Terms
1. Breast- It is the upper ventral region of the torso of a primate, in left and right sides,
containing the mammary gland which in a female can secrete milk used to feed infants.
2. Cancer- It is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and
are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to the other parts of the body
through blood.
3. Invasive Breast Cancer- The cancer spreads outside the membrane of the lobule or duct
into the breast tissue. The cancer can then spread into the lymph nodes in the armpit or
beyond.
4. Non-Invasive Breast Cancer- Stays within the milk ducts or lobule in the breast. They do
not grow into or invade normal tissues within or beyond the breast.
5. Lobule- A small part of the lobe in the breast. A breast lobule is a gland that makes milk.
6. Ductal Carcimona- Ductal means that the cancer starts inside the milk ducts, Carcimona
refer to any cancer that begins in the skin or other tissues(including breast tissue)that
cover or line the internal organs.
7. Breast Cancer- It is caused by the development og malignant cells in breast.

CHAPTER II
Review of Related Literature
Cancer, the disease
According to The Department of Medicinal Chemistry and the Department of
Pharmaceutics, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, and
University of Mississippi, cancer begins with a simple mutagenic process causing cells to
multiply when new cells are no longer needed. These erroneously dividing cells generally form a
tumor, which can be begin or malignant. By definition, benign tumors are not cancer, instead, it
is the malignant tumors that invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can
break away from the primary tumor and enter the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and find a
new physiological site to bind to and begin multiplying through a process called metastasis.
When a malignant tumor invades nearby tissue, it is known as infiltrating or invasive cancer;
when it spreads to another part of the body, the disease is called metastatic cancer. Breast cancer
often metastasizes first to the lymph nodes under the arm.

Nowadays, breast cancer has the increasing rate of victims, and it can affect every one,
either male or female without knowing that it might be the start of their excruciation. That's why
we did this study, not only to inform but also to help people to get more knowledge of what
breast cancer can bring into their life. Also to give some ideas of what we know about this case,
at the same time, to share the best and fast way to cure it. Because what we noticed is, they don't
have the awareness that they can be a victim too. People think that their money should spend for
10

the basic needs than to use for the medical check-ups.

The risks
According to Maxwell, the risk of breast cancer among Asian women (including Filipino
women) may be as high as or even higher than that of White women (Ziegler, Hoover, Pike et al.,
1993). Asian women frequently have been excluded from breast cancer research, and the few
studies that have included Asian-American women show that they have the lowest screening
rates among all ethnic groups. These considerations, coupled with the fact that Asians are the
fastest growing ethnic group in California, create an urgent need for interventions to increase
screening. However, at the present time, any intervention efforts will certainly be hampered by a
woefully inadequate understanding of breast cancer screening behaviors among Asian-American
women. The proposed study attempts to provide this information for women of Filipino descent
as a first step in the design of an effective, culturally appropriate intervention program.
Characterization of a breast tumor
According to William, J.S once a lump is identified, a biopsy is required to characterize
whether it is benign or malignant. The biopsy techniques most often utilized are minimally
invasive procedures that include imaging techniques such as stereotactic and ultrasound
procedures to provide an image of the abnormal tissue, and tissue sampling techniques using fine
needle, core needle, and vacuum-assisted sampling devices. Cancerous tumors are then staged
according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system, a crucial step in
determining treatment strategy.
The treatment strategies

11

There are treatments available for patients at all stages of breast cancer, and often more
than one type of treatment will be required. The three major treatments are surgery, radiation, and
drug therapy The choice of treatments) is determined by many factors, including the patient's
age, menopausal status, cancer type, stage, hormone-receptivity, and level of invasiveness.
Treatments are generally classified as local or systemic, with surgery and radiation considered
local and chemotherapy considered systemic. The optimal therapies are under continual review
and refinement.
The Importance of Early Detection
The three screening tests usually considered for early detection of breast cancer are X-ray
mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE), and breast self-examination (BSE). Early
detection is of vital importance in reducing breast cancer mortality, and X-ray mammography is
by far the most effective method of detecting the disease in its earliest and most treatable stage.
According to research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, mammography detects breast
cancer on an average of 1.7 years before the woman can feel the lump. When patients are
diagnosed at a local stage, their five-year survival rate is 97%; however, when breast cancer is
not diagnosed before metastasis, the five-year survival rate decreases to 20%.
BSE has not been demonstrated to affect breast cancer survival and should be considered
only as a complement to screening mammography, since mammography is the most effective
means of discovering breast cancer at a local stage. The majority of professional healthcare
organizations in the United States recommend that all women over the age of 40 be screened
using X-ray mammography at appropriate intervals, which are best determined by considering
individual risk factors and patient history.
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Early detection is the key

According to the American Cancer Society, a womans chance of survival is highest if
breast cancer is treated at Stages 0 to 1. At Stage 2, the survival rate goes down by seven percent.
By the time the cancer has reached Stage 3, the survival rate has lowered by 28 percent. At Stage
4, a patient will only have 22 percent of surviving the disease. Breast Self-Examination (BSE)
and regular visit to your doctor can save your life, said Dr. Basa. If you are not sure how to do
it, go to the Breast Center. The specialists there will be more than happy to tell you everything
that you need to know about breast cancer..
Causes of breast cancer, women believed:
According to Weiss, family history or an abnormal gene caused breast cancer 45.5% of
the time. Lifestyle choices, such as smoking and drinking alcohol, caused breast cancer about
29% of the time. Environmental exposures, such as chemicals in water or food, caused cancer
about 25% of the time.
Affected
According to Lapus, FG , doctor Felycette Gay Lapus, PSMO president, also said that the
Philippines had the lowest survival rate of people with breast cancer among 15 Asia countries.
Lapus emphasized the importance of women checking their breasts for lumps every month and to
have them checked by their physicians annually.
Dr. Lapus stated that, they cant stress enough the importance of early detection in breast
13

cancer management. This is especially true now when there are options for treatment that werent
available to everyone before.
Synthesis
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor
is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize)
to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in female, but male can get it, too.
Based on the study, Asian women frequently have been excluded from breast cancer
research, and the few studies that have included Asian-American women show that they have the
lowest screening rates among all ethnic groups. And this malignant tumor can be stopped by
detecting it early because when the tumor is at stages of 0-1, it can be ceased as early as it was
detected, and the people has the higher rate of survival.

14

CHAPTER III
Methodology

People know that health is very important to us. Especially, when it comes to our body
parts. Such like: breast. It may bring to Breast Cancer. In every men and women, breast is our
really concern nowadays. In addition, those people who are 18 to 30 years old is mostly affected
by the given disease. And this chapter discusses the methodology of the study.
Objective is necessary to form a research. This study was developed by the purpose of, to
help people to gain their knowledge about breast cancer. Second, to minimize the number of
victims from the disease. And lastly, moving for the early detection.

15

Instrument
The survey contains a personal data and the health information about them. The target
question about their awareness in the given case is also asked.
Sample survey

JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

80 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
Survey Sheet
I. Personal Information
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Course:
Year:
II. Please rate the following statements based on their importance to you.
Not Important
Somehow
Very Important
Essential
Important
1. Health
2. Your family's
health
3. Medical Check
up
4. Healthcare
Innovations
III. Please check the items that best represent your answers.
1. Where do you usually seek for information about your health?
___ Television
___ Radio
___ Books/Newspapers/Magazines
16

___ Internet
___ Peers/ Family
___ Other/s:_______________________
2. When you feel uncertain pains/irregularities in your body, what do you?
___ Consult directly to a physician
___ Look for information about the causes, effects and remedies
___ Ask a friend / family member
___ Ignore/ Do nothing
3. Do you take initiative in checking your own health if you are prone to a certain disease?
___ If yes, what are the factor/s that gives you initiative to take necessary action?
___ Family history
___ Severe pain/ symptoms felt
___ For health assurance
___ Other/s: ___________________
___ If no, what are the factor/s that hinders you from getting yourself checked?
___ Money
___ Fear of knowing
___ Time
___ No severe pain /symptoms felt
___ Other/s:____________________
IV. Level of Awareness
Please indicate how much knowledge you have on the following statement (3 being the highest
and 1 being the lowest)
1

1. Awareness on breast
cancer
2. Effects of breast
cancer
3. Breast Cancer
Remedies
Specify:_____________
4. Breast Cancer Early
Detection (e.g.
mammogram, breast
self- examination)
5. Breast CancerCentric Foundations
Specify:_____________
17

6. Breast Cancer
Programs

V. Involvement Assessment
Are you willing to have breast cancer early detection?
If yes, why?___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
If no, why?
____________________________________________________________

Participants
The study focused to those people who are mostly affected by breast cancer disease. The
participants qualified for the sample survey must be, 18 to 30 years old and a 3 rd year college
students of Jose Rizal University. A total of, 50 respondents to participate in a given sample
survey.
Method of analysis
We, the researchers, made a research study about this case. The breast cancer Awareness.
Conducting of a sample survey for at least 50 respondents to answer the questionnaire. The
participants must be 18 to 30 years of age focused to 3 rd year college students of JRU. At last,
collecting the data from survey to know what be the level of awareness regards to Breast Cancer.
Data Processing
After collecting all completed questionnaires from the respondents, the data will
categorize by the level of their awareness. Also, the separation for men and women's results. In
addition, the combination of two particular genders. After the process, the data form into
18

statistical illustration and is computed.

CHAPTER IV
Results and Discussion
Findings and Analysis of Data
This chapter represents the results of the study. Including, the representation of the tables
which describes the level of awareness regards to breast cancer.
Awareness level for Male

No. of Students

Aware

Percentage

18

66.67%

No. of Students

Aware

Percentage

32

63.00%

Fig.1
Awareness level for Female

Fig.2

According to the statistical results from the conducted survey, out of 18 respondents of
male students, 66.67 percent are aware to breast cancer and out of 32 respondents of female
students, 63 percent are aware from the given case.
19

Awareness Level for Male and Female

No. of Students

Aware

Percentage

50

14

64.00%

Fig.3
About 50 respondents of selected 3rd year college students of Jose Rizal University, There
are 14 students that have the curiosity to breast cancer. And, it is rated at 64 percent.
The study recognizes that the level of awareness is lesser than what the researchers
expected.

20

CHAPTER V
Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Conclusion
Cancer is one of the most dangerous among the disease; and one of the most popular is
the breast cancer. Breast cancer is most common in women, affecting mostly in their 50's but in
rare cases, men also suffered the same. To address this cancer and to lessen the possibility of men
or women to have breast cancer, it is quite important that people should be aware about this
disease. The knowledge on how the cancer cells can be developed, the factors affecting it, the
cures and/or the ways and means to prevent it must be known to all so that people have more
option in preventing to have it.
On this study, the chosen age range 18-30 years in the best because these are the years
wherein people are starting to be more conscious on their health and they have the financial
capacity to get medical/professional assistance. In increasing the awareness about cancer, we can
therefore conclude that there will be a decrease in rate of people that might get the disease.
All in all, breast cancer is the most cancer among women, although it exists in men in
rare cases. According to the survey results of 83% are aware for the women. And 63% are aware
for men. Therefore, the age about 18-30 years old will be aware of breast cancer.

21

Recommendation
For this case, It is recommended for the future researchers to give more data about breast
cancer. They should be observant and conduct more survey about the awareness level in comes
to breast cancer.
.

22

References
William, J.S. ; Wyandt, C.M (2002). Proquest 5000. Breast cancer. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/205050904/1430F2BF5627F771FAA/2?accountid=33478
Basa, AA. Asian Hospital and Medical Center. Asian Hospital empowers Filipino women
against breast cancer. Retrieved from
http://www.asianhospital.com/news/asian-hospital-empowers-filipino-women-against-breastcancer/
Weiss, M. (2014). Breast cancer org. Study Looks at Womens Awareness of Breast Cancer Risk
Factors. Retrieved from
http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/20140212.
Lapus, FG. (2012). Inquirer. Breast cancer is the most prevalent in PH. Retrieved from
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/291078/breast-cancer-is-the-most-prevalent-in-ph.
Maxwell, A (2002). University of California. Understanding Breast Cancer Screening in
Filipino Women. Retrieved from
http://cbcrp.org.127.seekdotnet.com/research/PageGrant.asp?grant_id=19.

23

Appendix

JOSE RIZAL UNIVERSITY

80 Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City
Survey Sheet
I.Personal Information
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Course:
Year:
II. Please rate the following statements based on their importance to you.
Not Important
Somehow
Very Important
Essential
Important
1. Health
2. Your family's
health
3. Medical Check
up
4. Healthcare
Innovations
III. Please check the items that best represent your answers.
1. Where do you usually seek for information about your health?
___ Television
___ Radio
___ Books/Newspapers/Magazines
___ Internet
___ Peers/ Family
___ Other/s:_______________________
2. When you feel uncertain pains/irregularities in your body, what do you?
___ Consult directly to a physician
___ Look for information about the causes , effects and remedies
___ Ask a friend / family member
___ Ignore/ Do nothing
3. Do you take initiative in checking your own health if you are prone to a certain disease?
___ If yes, what are the factor/s that gives you initiative to take necessary action?
24

___ Family history

___ Severe pain/ symptoms felt
___ For health assurance
___ Other/s: ___________________
___ If no, what are the factor/s that hinders you from getting yourself checked?
___ Money
___ Fear of knowing
___ Time
___ No severe pain /symptoms felt
___ Other/s:____________________
IV. Level of Awareness
Please indicate how much knowledge you have on the following statement (3 being the highest
and 1 being the lowest)
1

1. Awareness on breast
cancer
2. Effects of breast
cancer
3. Breast Cancer
Remedies
Specify:_____________
4. Breast Cancer Early
Detection (e.g.
mammogram, breast
self- examination)
5. Breast CancerCentric Foundations
Specify:_____________
6. Breast Cancer
Programs

IV. Involvement Assessment

Are you willing to have breast cancer early detection?
If yes, why?___________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
If no, why?
____________________________________________________________

25

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