Women most at risk for developing breast cancer were the least likely to realize it according to a recent national survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Being over age 50 places a woman at an increased risk for developing breast cancer. Yet, only 37% of women aged 55 or older listed breast cancer as a disease they were most concerned about as they age.
Survey Results
The survey, which polled 1,158 US women aged 35 and older, revealed that women did not identify age as a primary risk factor for breast cancer. Specifically, the survey showed:
• More women (71%) ranked family history as an "extremely" or "very" important risk factor for breast cancer compared to increasing age (36%), when in fact only 15% of women diagnosed with breast cancer have a family member with the disease.
• 75% of women surveyed did not recognize that being over age 50 presents the greatest risk for developing breast cancer.
• Only 37% of women aged 55 and older listed breast cancer as a disease they were most concerned about as they age.
• One-third (33%) of women mistakenly believe that the importance of a regular mammogram decreases with age. Approximately 23% indicated they believe that the age at which the importance of getting a mammogram starts to decrease is at some point after age 60.
• More than one-third of women (35%) indicated they got most of their health information from a family physician, with the Internet being ranked second (18%), the news media third (17%) and an obstetrician/gynecologist fourth (16%).About the Survey
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