Table 3 Respondents' knowledge of breast cancer and self-reported practice of breast self-examination (n = 1402)

Have you heard about breast cancer in Iran?

Yes

894

64

No

508

36

What do you think about breast cancer in Iran

It is a rare disease among women

200

14

It is relatively a common disease among women

851

61

I don't know

351

25

Breast cancer symptoms

Painless mass

618

44

Painful mass

183

13

Nipple retraction

72

5

Breast pain

223

16

Breast discharge

81

6

Bloody discharge

118

8

Breast asymmetry

20

2

Don't know

87

6

Knowledge about screening programs*

Heard of BSE

505

31

Heard of clinical examination

337

21

Heard of mammography

144

9

Knew nothing

626

39

Source of information*

Radio

199

14

Television

487

34

Printed materials

191

13

Friends

284

20

Others (physicians, family, etc.)

271

19

Frequency of self-reported BSE

Regularly (monthly)

238

17

Occasionally

282

20

Never

882

63