INTRODUCTION

1.0 Background of the study

This chapter describes the Background of the study, the statement of the problem, objectives of the study, Research Questions, significance of the study, scope/delimitation of the study and Operational definitions of terms.

The development of the human breast begins during gestation but is not complete at the time of birth. Further development and differentiation of breast tissue occurs over time and especially in puberty, continuing through the reproductive years, during pregnancy and lactation, and at menopause. Monthly ovulatory cycles are accompanied by cyclical changes in the form and behavior of cells and structure in the breast, including progressive differentiation. Pregnancy and lactation end, as well as at menopause, breast tissue regresses to a less differentiated state. (Kordeet al, 2010).

Within the breast are adipose and connective tissues thatsurround multiple collection of lobules in which milk moves to the nipple through ductal structures. The ducts are lined by luminal epithelial cells and have an outer layer of myoepithelial cell. Population of stem cells that can give rise to either

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luminal or myoepithelial cells are also found in the ductal tissue. The ducts anchored to a basement membrane, which contributes to both the structure and the function of the ductal tissue. Connective tissue within and between the lobules, known as the stroma, further contributes to the structure of the breast and plays an important role in regulating both normal and abnormal breast cell growth and function (Arendt et al,2010). Cell types within the stroma include (but are not limited to) fibroblasts, adipocytes, macrophages,and lymphocytes (Johnson, 2010). These cells and structures in the breast generate and respond to a diverse mix of hormones, especially estrogen, and other regulatory factors.

Certain disruptions in the complex processes that govern the structure and function of breast tissue may set the stage for breast cancer. Some carcinogenic events occur spontaneously in the course of normal biological processes and others are triggered by external factors. Although the body has efficient protective responses, such as DNA repair and immune surveillance, that can reduce the effect of such events, these protective responses are not always successful. The interval between the earliest “event” and the detection of a cancer may span several decades.

CHAPTER ONE

 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER TWO 

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

CHAPTER THREE 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

CHAPTER FOUR 

DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION

CHAPTER FIVE 

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

References

Questionnaire