The impact of a family history of breast cancer on screening practices and attitudes in low-income, rural, African American women.

BACKGROUND: Women with a family history of breast cancer are at increased risk for developing cancer and, therefore, might be expected to engage in early detection practices more actively than women without a family history. Alternatively, women with a family history may avoid thinking about cancer and have attitudes and practices that do not promote early detection. METHODS: This study examined breast cancer attitudes and practices among African American women aged >or=50 who had not had a mammogram in the last 2 years. RESULTS: Phone survey data from 320 female clients of low-income, rural primary care clinics (91% African American) indicated that 15% self-reported a family history of breast cancer (FH(+)). Half of the FH(+) women did not know their relative risk of developing breast cancer. Of those providing a risk estimate, 67% perceived themselves at low risk compared with other women their age. Perceived relative risk was comparable between FH(+) and FH(-) women. Further, FH(+) women did not indicate greater worry about breast cancer, nor did they have more accurate knowledge of mammography recommendations than FH(-) women. Two thirds of FH(+) women had never had a mammogram. Monthly breast self-examination did not differ between FH(+) and FH(-) women. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, neither knowledge of a positive family history nor perceived relative risk of breast cancer was associated with either increased or decreased early detection practices among these low-income, rural, African American women who have underused mammography. Furthermore, a substantial proportion of FH(+) women had not ever participated in screening mammography. Interventions to increase mammography rates in this population of underusers are indicated.

Relationship Between Relative Risk of Developing Breast Cancer and Absolute Risk in a Population of Rural, Older African American Women.

Relative risks computed from known breast cancer risk factors can be used to quantitate a woman's individual risk of developing breast cancer. However, among older women the absolute risk of developing breast cancer over a specified time interval may be more useful in risk-benefit counseling. The objective of this investigation is to characterize the relationships between relative risks and absolute risks of breast cancer among a population of rural, older African American women. Among 224 African American women aged 50-91 years, relative risks were computed from historical information on age at menarche, number of previous biopsies, age at first birth, and number of first-degree relatives with breast cancer. These estimates, combined with the woman's current age, average remaining life expectancy, age-specific mortality, and breast cancer incidence rates, were used to estimate lifetime probabilities of developing breast cancer. Most women in the cohort (72.8%) had weak relative risks of 1.01-1.5 and only 3.5% of the women had relative risks of greater than 3.0. The majority of the women (87.5%) had lifetime probabilities of developing breast cancer that were less than 5%. Although there is a marked increase in age-specific breast cancer incidence with age, the probability of developing breast cancer in this population is low, primarily due to the low relative risks and the effects of competing mortality at older ages. Screening mammography should be directed toward women with high risks who are not receiving regular screening mammograms.