BODY MASS INDEX AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH PROFILE OF BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

The aim of this descriptive survey study is to explore the reproductive health of women with breast cancer as well as their body mass index. A total of I 000 adult females with breast cancer attending The Nuclear Medicine Unit and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit at El Mania! University Hospital, as well as the National Cancer Institute in Cairo, Egypt were recruited. Data were collected through a reproductive profile questionnaire designed to collect data related to demographic and reproduc'tive profile; body mass index assessment sheet, for data about patients' physical assessment as weight and height measures and their body mass index. The study results indicated that the mean age of the sample is 49.52± 11.56 years, 67% of the sample lives in urban areas, 55% are not educated, 60% are married and 25% are widows. Seventy five percent of them are using different insecticidal agents, 95% of them are using detergent agents. Mean age at menarche is 13.33 ± 1.42 years old, the total period of menstrual cycle mean is 28.37± 4.80 days, the duration of menstruation range is 2-8 with a mean of 4.67± 1.63 days, 24% of the sample indicated inter menstrual bleeding; and 64% of them indicated dysmenorrheal bleeding. In addition, 51% indicated that they had premenstrual symptoms; mean age at marriage is 18.18± 6.13 years. Ninety five point six percent of the married women are multiparous, the mean age at first deli very is 19.5± 7.56 years, and the mean age at last delivery is 29.62±12.19 years. Fifty-two point six percent of them indicated that they had abortions and 7.4 % had premature labor. Thirty-four percent of the sample had minor gynecological operations such as D & C. Eighty nine percent are breast feeding for a mean of 15.76± 7.74 months, 52% of the sample are in stage 2 of the disease. Among those mothers only 6% of them performed breast self-examination, while, only 6% had some information about breast-self examination, and only I% of them had accurate information. The mean of body mass index is 30.23± 4.97. In conclusion, those, who have the previous profile, are liable to breast cancer.