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Table 3 Response of participants to statements on curability of breast cancer

From: Breast cancer literacy among higher secondary students: results from a cross-sectional study in Western Nepal

Statement

Response

Total (n = 516)

Male (n = 233)

Female (n = 283)

p-valuec

For many women, breast cancer can now be successfully treated without breast removal (mastectomy).a

Yes

201 (39.0)

97 (41.6)

104 (36.7)

0.035*

No

94 (18.2)

50 (21.5)

44 (15.5)

Don’t know

221 (42.8)

86 (36.9)

135 (47.8)

By the time a cancerous breast lump is painful, it is too late to be successfully treated.b

Yes

249 (48.3)

122 (52.4)

127 (44.9)

0.142

No

66 (12.8)

31 (13.3)

35 (12.4)

Don’t know

201 (38.9)

80 (34.3)

121 (42.7)

If all lymph glands around the breast and under the arm are not removed, breast cancer cannot be cured.b

Yes

109 (21.1)

59 (25.3)

50 (17.7)

0.098

No

76 (14.7)

31 (13.3)

45 (15.9)

Don’t know

331 (64.2)

143 (61.4)

188 (66.4)

Breast cancer is sometimes treated successfully by removal of the lump (lumpectomy) and radiation therapy.a

Yes

221 (42.8)

89 (38.2)

132 (46.6)

0.100

No

57 (11.0)

31 (13.3)

26 (9.2)

Don’t know

238 (46.2)

113 (48.5)

125 (44.2)

Breast cancer is less likely to be cured in women with a family history of breast cancer than in women with no family history of breast cancer.b

Yes

151 (29.3)

78 (33.5)

73 (25.8)

0.155

No

124 (24.0)

54 (23.2)

70 (24.7)

Don’t know

241 (46.7)

101 (43.3)

140 (49.5)

By the time a woman can feel a cancerous breast lump, it is too late to treat it effectively.b

Yes

237 (45.9)

113 (48.5)

124 (43.8)

0.132

No

87 (16.9)

44 (18.9)

43 (15.2)

Don’t know

192 (37.2)

76 (32.6)

116 (41.0)

Even if breast cancer is caught very early, the chances for cure are much better if the whole breast is removed.b

Yes

204 (39.5)

97 (41.6)

107 (37.8)

0.053

No

96 (18.6)

51 (21.9)

45 (15.9)

Don’t know

216 (41.9)

85 (36.5)

131 (46.3)

Even if detected and treated early, a woman with breast cancer is unlikely to live a normal life span.b

Yes

185 (35.9)

73 (31.3)

112 (39.6)

0.118

No

203 (39.3)

95 (40.8)

108 (38.2)

Don’t know

128 (24.8)

65 (27.9)

63 (22.2)

  1. Data are frequency (percentage)
  2. aStatement is true
  3. bStatement is false
  4. cp-value derived from the chi-square test of association
  5. *p <0.05