The alarming rise in the incidence of breast cancer cases in India has been attributed to certain extent to westernization and changing life styles. It is already a known fact that old Indian Traditions like early marriages, early child birth, prolonged breast feeding, simple vegetarian diet and lot of physical work had a major role to play in reducing the risk of Breast Cancer in the past.

A qualitative study was done to evaluate effectiveness of Cancer awareness programs advocating importance of old Indian Traditions for cancer prevention.

Methods:

Around 24 cancer prevention awareness programs were conducted over a period of 12 months at various places near Nagpur by trained counselors and health workers. Pre and post program feedback was collected to evaluate effectiveness of programs, which propagated especially old Indian traditions of cancer prevention. Around 960 women were educated and old Indian traditions were explained to them. As few of the traditions are not possible to practice, e.g early marriages and early child birth, modifications were made to explain their importance.

Result:

Feedback in local languages was taken pre and post programs in 952 cases. 95 % of cases showed positive response and accepted the importance of modification in life style of their own as well as their families and friends.

Conclusion:

Modified Cancer awareness programs advocating old Indian traditions of cancer prevention proved to be acceptable to the general women population.