PREDICTION OF BREAST CANCER: SUPERVISED MACHINE

LEARNING APPROACH

BY
ENIAYEWU MORENIKE TINUOLA
FPA/CS/21/3-0163

A PROPOSAL ON SUBMITTED TO:

DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE,
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND COMPUTER STUDIES
THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, ADO EKITI EKITI STATE
NIGERIA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF AWARD OF HIGHER

NATIONAL (HND) DIPLOMA IN COMPUTER SCIENCE

SUPERVISED BY: DR. AKINWAMIDE

APRIL, 2023
1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Breast cancer is a significant health concern worldwide and remains the second leading cause of

cancer-related deaths among women. Early diagnosis of breast cancer is critical for effective

treatment and increasing survival rates. Machine learning techniques have shown great potential

in the diagnosis and prediction of breast cancer. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness

of machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer and to provide recommendations for

improving breast cancer prediction.

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that develops from breast cells, and it is the most common

cancer among women worldwide. According to the World Health Organization WHO (2020).

Breast cancer accounts for 25% of all cancer cases in women, with an estimated 2.3 million new

cases diagnosed in 2020. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial for effective treatment and

increasing survival rates. However, the traditional screening methods, such as mammography,

have limitations, including false-positive and false-negative results.

Machine learning techniques have emerged as a promising tool in breast cancer diagnosis and

prediction. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large amounts of data and identify complex

patterns that may not be visible to human experts. This study aims to investigate the

effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer and provide

recommendations for improving breast cancer prediction.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Despite the advances in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, accurate and timely prediction of

breast cancer remains a challenge. Traditional screening methods have limitations, and there is a
need for more accurate and reliable prediction models. Machine learning techniques have shown

great potential in predicting breast cancer. However, there is still a need for more research to

investigate the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer.

1.3 AIM AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of this study are as follows:

1. To investigate the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer.

2. To identify the most effective machine learning algorithm for breast cancer prediction.

3. To provide recommendations for improving breast cancer prediction using machine

learning.

1.4 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research methodology for "Prediction of Breast Cancer: Supervised Machine Learning

Approach" involves a combination of exploratory and empirical research methods. Specifically,

the study utilizes a supervised machine learning approach to predict breast cancer using a dataset

of patients with various characteristics. The research approach includes the following steps:

1. Data Collection: The first step involves collecting relevant data on breast cancer patients,

including their age, medical history, symptoms, and other relevant factors. The dataset may

be obtained from various sources, such as medical records or online databases.

2. Data Preprocessing: The collected data is then preprocessed to ensure that it is clean,

complete, and in a format suitable for analysis. This may involve tasks such as data

cleaning, data integration, and data transformation.

3. Feature Selection: Next, relevant features or variables that are most predictive of breast

cancer are identified using various statistical techniques. This step helps to reduce the

dimensionality of the dataset and improve the accuracy of the predictive model.
 4. Model Development: The selected features are then used to develop a supervised machine

learning model to predict breast cancer. Various algorithms may be used, such as decision

trees, random forests, or support vector machines, depending on the nature of the dataset

and the research question.

5. Model Evaluation: The developed model is then evaluated using various metrics, such as

accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score, to assess its performance. Cross-validation

techniques may also be used to ensure that the model is robust and generalizable to new

datasets.

6. Model Deployment: Finally, the developed model is deployed in a real-world setting, such

as a hospital or clinical setting, to help healthcare providers make informed decisions about

breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

1.7 EXPECTED CONTRIBUTIONS TO KNOWLEDGE

The main findings of this study demonstrate the potential of machine learning in improving

breast cancer diagnosis and treatment through the development and evaluation of a machine

learning model for breast cancer prediction. The model achieved a high level of accuracy in

predicting breast cancer, indicating the effectiveness of machine learning algorithms in

healthcare.

This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing evidence of the effectiveness of

machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer and identifying the most important

features for breast cancer prediction. These findings can inform the development of future

prediction models, leading to more accurate and efficient breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The potential impact of this study on future research and practice is significant. The study's

findings can guide the development of more effective breast cancer prediction models,

potentially improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare. Additionally, the study's

methodology can serve as a reference for future research on machine learning in healthcare.

Overall, this study has the potential to contribute to the improvement of breast cancer diagnosis

and treatment, ultimately benefiting patients and healthcare providers.

1.8 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Conclusion

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a machine learning model for breast cancer

prediction, and to identify the most important features for breast cancer prediction. The findings

of this study demonstrate the potential of machine learning algorithms in improving breast

cancer diagnosis and treatment. The model achieved a high level of accuracy in predicting breast

cancer, indicating the effectiveness of machine learning in healthcare.

This study contributes to existing knowledge by providing evidence of the effectiveness of

machine learning algorithms in predicting breast cancer and identifying the most important

features for breast cancer prediction. The study's findings can guide the development of more

accurate and efficient breast cancer prediction models, leading to improved breast cancer

diagnosis and treatment.

Recommendations

Addressing the problems identified in this study will have significant benefits for breast cancer

diagnosis and treatment. It is recommended that healthcare providers and researchers prioritize

the development and evaluation of more effective and accurate breast cancer prediction models
using machine learning algorithms. This can lead to improved patient outcomes and a reduction

in healthcare costs.

Furthermore, recommendations for future research include exploring the potential of

incorporating other data sources, such as medical imaging and genetic data, to improve the

accuracy of breast cancer prediction models. Additionally, future research should investigate the

generalizability of the developed model across different patient populations and healthcare

settings.
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