[Breast cancer prevention--awareness and health behavior changes in women in 1998-2002]

To find changes in the proportion of women who declared they were aware of breast self examination (BSE) and performed it regularly in 1998 and in 2002, as well as in the proportion of those who declared health behaviour connected with secondary prevention of breast cancer. Also to define the groups of women who especially need health education and prophylactic intervention.

The results of two breast cancer prevention surveys on representative samples of Polish women aged over 18 + years were compared. The data were analysed in groups of women categorised according to selected demographic and social factors.

The substantial increase in the proportion of women who declared that they performed mammography in 2002 in relation to 1998. The percent of women who declared other prophylactic behaviours in 2002 did not change or was even lower in some groups. The decrease of doctors' activity in the field of secondary prevention of cancer was also observed.

1. It is important to continue educational work and intervention measures concerning breast cancer prevention, with special attention to the most neglected groups of women. 2. It would be important to continue educating doctors in prophylactic breast examination and establish some obligatory rules in this area. 3. It would be beneficial to introduce breast cancer screening in Poland on the national scale. A model of such screening has already been implemented.