Why do so many women feel uncomfortable performing the BSE or having a medical checkup?

Traditional health beliefs teach the importance of the propriety of female behavior, a value that both US and Mexican born women hold onto.

Women of Mexican descent admit they “don't like being touched and exposing their bodies because they consequently feel embarrassed” and have learned that it is an appropriate behavior for their health by a trained professional (Borrayo 203)

In one study, 57% of Mexican American women felt uncomfortable examining their own breasts for lumps, and 54% agreed that they did not have any control over getting breast cancer (Carpenter 219). In this study, 75% of these Mexican American women didn't think they could perform BSE, yet 83% knew it was important.

Many Mexican American women felt too embarrassed, 42.9%, to have a pelvic examination and Pap smear done (Carpenter 219). Only 11.9% of these women thought they could get a pelvic examination and Pap smear once a year if they were available even though 79.4% knew that “cancer of the uterus and cervix can easily be detected with a Pap test” (Carpenter 219).

The majority of these Mexican American women believed that they couldn't do the BSE, have a pelvic examination or Pap smear done because they were uncomfortable (Carpenter 219). These women were uncomfortable because of their traditional health belief and value in modesty which encompasses not touching oneself, or allowing another person to touch you.

The majority of the Mexican American women in this study are at high risk for late stage diagnosis for breast cancer because they felt uncomfortable performing the breast self exam, but also having a medical checkup performed by a health care professional even if the resources were available. These women aren't comfortable utilizing prevention screening techniques because they are embarrassed and uncomfortable.