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Young Women Lack Knowledge About Breast Health |
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The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation announced the results of its young women's needs assessment in Dallas, Texas on September 24, 2002. This was the first national study of its kind to reveal current breast health practices among young women between the ages of 20 and 39. The study, conducted by the California Family Health Council and Harris Interactive explored current breast health practices, as well as what young women believed about common breast cancer myths, and the preferred educational methods of women included.
Initial research included a review of breast cancer research targeting young women and 214 existing breast health education materials. The assessment included 33 regional focus groups of young women and 240 telephone surveys. Harris Poll conducted a follow-up telephone survey of 522 young women which confirmed many of the ideas and practices revealed in the assessment.
Important findings from the assessment include:
- The majority
(over 50 percent) of young women do not practice monthly breast
self-exam. The women said this is because they are unsure of how
to perform breast self-exam; they don't remember to do it; don't
have time for monthly breast self-exam. These problems can be
easily overcome by setting a day, such as the first day of
menstruation, to perform breast self-exam and understanding that
breast self-exam takes only a few minutes to perform. The reward
for this few minutes of time for young women may be the saving of
their own lives.
- Unfortunately,
young women mistakenly believe that breast cancer is
preventable.
- Almost 60
percent of young women do not believe that they are at risk of
developing breast cancer. Although breast cancer is rare in young
women, it does occur. A friend of my daughter's was diagnosed with
breast cancer in her early twenties.
- Another misconception is that forty percent of young women believe that mammograms prevent breast cancer rather than screen for breast cancer.
While it is true that the two greatest risks for developing breast cancer are being a woman and getting older, it is important for women between the ages of 20 and 39 to understand that breast cancer is still the leading cause of cancer deaths in their age group. Sadly, young women diagnosed with breast cancer are more likely to have a more aggressive form of the disease. They also face unique survivorship issues. The Komen Foundation strongly urges all young women to engage in positive breast health habits such as monthly breast self-exam, regardless of the incidence rates.
According to Rebecca Garcia, Ph.D., vice president of health sciences for the Komen Foundation, "Previously, we had only anecdotal insight about young women and their breast cancer concerns. But now, this research provides the data needed to develop targeted programming for this audience. With evidence-based educational initiatives, we hope to reach young women at an early age and empower them to adopt lifelong, positive breast health habits."
The Komen Foundation recommends monthly BSE (breast self-exam) for young women beginning by age 20. The Foundation recently unveiled an animated BSE (breast self-exam) instructional tool, which provides BSE (breast self-exam) instruction through audio clips, video animation and written directions in both English and Spanish.
"Women, particularly young women, are busier today than ever before," Garcia said. "Now the Komen Foundation offers them the opportunity to learn proper BSE (breast self-exam) technique when it is convenient for them and in the privacy of their own home."
Other information revealed from the research found that there is very little relevant, targeted breast health material available for young women. Additionally, young women often prefer to receive breast health information from their health care providers.
- Almost 70
percent of the women said they seek information about breast
cancer from their health care providers whom they trust as a
credible source of information. Because of these findings, the
Komen Foundation plans to work diligently with health care
providers, particularly family practice physicians, primary care
providers, and gynecologists to educate them about the importance
of early detection through monthly breast self-exam and helping
young women to learn the skills need to practice positive breast
health.
- Additionally, more than half of the women said they relied on television, radio, newspapers, and magazines for breast health and breast cancer information. Forty percent of the young women surveyed said they turn to family and friends for breast health and breast cancer information.
Source: Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
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