Worldwide breast cancer is a leading cause of mortality among women. It is well
documented that early detection of breast cancer is accompanied with a better prognosis as regards
treatment and survival time. Unfortunately. the early diagnostic procedures . are limited. in
developing countries due to many barriers such as poverty, educational and cultural obstacles. This
study was conducted to assess knowledge attitude and practices of 126 young female employees «
45 years) about breast self-examination (BSE) in Assiut. An educational training program
concerned with BSE was applied after testing their knowledge about BSE and breast cancel Reevaluation
of their knowledge and attitude was done Immediately after the program (posttest I) and
for another time after one month (posttest II). The results showed that knowledge, attitude and
practice of BSE improved markedly after the program (p < 0.00 1). There is a very highly
significant marked improvement in BSE knowledge and attitude from pretest to post test 1 and II
Forgetting may lower the percentages of the responses in the posttest II but still the differences
between pre and posttest II is very highly significant (p < 0.00 1). A health BSE education program
to increase awareness of women and to increase the nurse competence in BSE will be helpful for
early detection of breast cancer