Introduction:
Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women, practically regardless of age. The effects of treatment depend on the severity and prevention which should be undertaken in relation to all women and educate them about breast self-examination and other methods of cancer diagnosis. The aim of the study was to determine the level of students› knowledge about the prevention of breast cancer. The study involved 100 randomly selected students of the State School of Higher Education in Biala Podlaska (60 women and 40 men) aged 21–28. The research instrument was a questionnaire designed by the author consisting of 27 items. It was confirmed that breast cancer did not occur in the respondents’ families (77% of women and 82% men), students were familiar with the causes of the disease – most frequently indicated by the genes BRC1 and BRC2 (40% of women and men), as well as with the symptoms – they most often reported tumour in the breast (25% of women). It is an alarming fact that as many as 25% of women and 15% of men believed that cancer cannot be prevented; however, according to as many as 78% of women and 60% of men, the prevention of breast cancer should begin in junior high school. Students do not possess sufficient knowledge concerning the methods of breast cancer diagnosis and the age at which women should undergo examinations. Students had difficulty determining the right time to carry out breast self-examination, indications for mammography and breast ultrasound. The following conclusions were formulated: the respondents evaluated their knowledge about breast cancer as mediocre, although they mentioned the symptoms and risk factors of cancer. The students had a problem with breast self-examination, which is too rarely performed by women, whereas men did not know when it should be performed. The primary source of the respondents’ knowledge about breast cancer prevention is the Internet. key words: prevention, breast cancer