165A STUDY ON ASSESSMENT OF HEALTH BELIEFS AND CANCER WORRIES ABOUT BREAST CANCER AMONG WOMEN IN SELECTED AREAS OF TIRUPATI, ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIACancer is a difficult thing to talk about in the space of a singly news story”. Niederdeppe said. “Science values repetition, which the media values novelty those two concepts naturally but heads, which can confuse people”. Breast cancer is one of the most commonest cancers affecting women. Statistics reveal that, the incidence of breast cancer is rapidly increasing in India and has over taken the cancer of cervix. It is estimated that, one in 22 Indian women is likely to develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Breast cancer is a disease of old age with the peak incidence in the fifth and sixth decades but, in India the disease is sum a decade earlier, because of shorter longevity of life in India women. A data was obtained from 100 women and the sample was selected by using stratified random sampling technique. The tool used for the study was a structured and standard pre-tested questionnaire. The data was analyzed and interpreted by using simple descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings shows that, among 100 women, 61percent were having adequate health beliefs about breast cancer and early cancer detection practices. Out of 100 women, 34 percent were having moderate level of cancer worry or fear of getting breast cancer. Understanding peoples health beliefs thoroughly and then bringing a meaningful change is essential to improve the whole situation.sailajabusi@gmail.comResearch512015Breast cancer,Health beliefs,Cancer worrySailaja.BusiLecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa Univeristy, Hawassa, Ethiopia