Articles

The Relationship Between Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination Behavior Among Women of Reproductive Age in Kupang City, Indonesia

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Background: Breast cancer remains the most common cancer and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, including women of reproductive age. Early detection through Breast Self-Examination (BSE), locally known as SADARI, is a simple and cost-effective method, particularly relevant in low-resource settings. Knowledge about breast cancer is considered a key cognitive factor influencing women’s engagement in early detection behaviors.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the level of knowledge about breast cancer and Breast Self-Examination behavior among women of reproductive age in Kupang City, Indonesia.

Methods: This study employed an observational analytic design with a cross-sectional approach. The research was conducted in six districts of Kupang City from August to October 2025. The study population consisted of women aged 15–49 years. A total of 100 respondents were selected using proportional random sampling. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire measuring breast cancer knowledge and BSE behavior. Data analysis included univariate analysis and bivariate analysis using the Chi-square test, with a significance level set at α = 0.05.

Results: Most respondents demonstrated a moderate level of breast cancer knowledge (68.0%), followed by good (27.0%) and poor knowledge (5.0%). The majority of participants reported supportive BSE behavior (70.0%). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between breast cancer knowledge and BSE behavior (Chi-square test, p = 0.031).

Conclusion: There is a statistically significant relationship between breast cancer knowledge and Breast Self-Examination behavior among women of reproductive age in Kupang City. Higher levels of knowledge are associated with a greater likelihood of engaging in early detection practices through BSE. Strengthening educational interventions may improve early detection behaviors and contribute to breast cancer prevention efforts.

Self-Acceptance of Breast Cancer Patients in the Minahasa Cultural Context of North Sulawesi: A Literature Review

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Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women compared to other types of cancer. Both the disease and its treatment have not only physical impacts but also significant psychological effects. Common psychological impacts experienced by breast cancer patients include anxiety, depression, fear of death, body image disturbances, and low self-acceptance. The aspect of self-acceptance plays a crucial role in the psychological adaptation process of breast cancer patients. In Minahasa society, culture and spirituality hold a central role in shaping how individuals perceive illness and the healing process. Beliefs in ancestral spirits, traditional healing practices, and life philosophies such as mapalus influence how patients respond to a cancer diagnosis and make decisions regarding medical treatment. This paper aims to conceptually explore how cultural beliefs in the Minahasa community influence self-acceptance among breast cancer patients and to discuss the application of the transcultural nursing approach using Leininger’s Sunrise Enabler Model. This conceptual paper is based on a literature review of relevant scientific articles, ethnographic sources, and cultural texts. The analysis is conducted using a conceptual framework based on the Sunrise Enabler model and Madeleine Leininger’s Culture Care theory. The literature study reveals that Minahasa culture significantly influences how patients accept their illness. Spirituality, traditional beliefs, and social support rooted in the mapalus value system can enhance self-acceptance. However, certain cultural beliefs also pose challenges, such as the myth that surgery can worsen cancer. In this context, nurses play a crucial role in culturally sensitive and collaborative repatterning through education. In conclusion, nursing approaches that acknowledge and respect local culture can effectively support patients’ self-acceptance. The nurse’s role in care delivery includes an approach that addresses patients’ spiritual, social, and cultural traditions. This holistic approach is vital for promoting treatment adherence and improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients, especially within culturally rich communities like the Minahasa society.

A Comparative Study of the Toxicities and Local Recurrence of Conventional External Beam Radiotherapy versus Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

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Introduction: Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst women, which is treated by a multi-modality approach consisting of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

Objective: The aim of the study is to compare the early and late treatment toxicities and the local recurrence following Conventional and Hypofractionated External Beam Radiotherapy in breast cancer patients after surgery.

Methods: A randomized study was conducted for two years including 150 patients. The patients were divided into two arms, with Arm-A receiving a total dose of 50Gy/25# and the Arm-B receiving 40Gy/16#.

Results: Early and late treatment toxicities were comparable in both the arms, except for skin toxicity which was more in the hypofractionated arm (Arm-B).  Local Recurrence was observed in Arm-A in 1 patient at Month 17 of follow-up, and in Arm-B at Month 13 in 1 patient and at Month 21 in 1 patient.

Conclusion: Hypofractionated radiotherapy given over a short period of time is comparable to Conventional fractionation radiotherapy without any significant statistical difference in terms of toxicities or local recurrence; with an added advantage of reduced treatment time, reduced duration of hospital stays, better patients’ compliance and reduced cost of treatment.

Potencial of Ursolic Acid Derivatives as Anti Breast Cancer

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Breast cancer is one of the biggest contributors to death in the world. Several treatment methods such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, and surgery have shown side effects and resistance to breast cancer. Bioactive compounds are now an alternative in the development of drugs for breast cancer. Pearl grass is one of the plants reported to contain bioactive compounds that have inhibitory activity against breast cancer cells, namely ursolic acid. Most reports describe modifications of groups on its structure increasing the potential of ursolic acid as a breast cancer drug. This study aims to develop breast cancer drugs with raw materials of ursolic acid derivative compounds that are modified on the active side with groups that play an important role as anticancer using the Quantitative Structure and Activity Relationship (QSAR) method and molecular docking. The QSAR descriptors used are hydrophobic, steric, and electronic. The characters of each descriptor were computed using the SwissADME, Molinspiration, and NWChem programs with the DFT method, B3LYP function, and 6-31G* basis set. Molecular docking was performed using the AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 program and visualized using the Biovia Studio Visualizer program. The results showed that the regression coefficient (R2) of the QSAR model had a high correlation of 0.985 with the compound (1S,2R,4aS,6aR,6bR,10S,12aR,12bR,14bS)-10-amino-1,2,6a,6b,9,9, 12a-heptamethyl-14-oxoicosahydropicene-4a(2H)-carboxylic acid became the best compound validated by the results of molecular docking which has a binding energy of -7.92 kcal/mol and an inhibition constant of 1.42 nM so that it can inhibit MCF-7 cells in breast cancer.