HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Related articles in AJPH Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Kaplan, K M Articles by Herndon, J L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Kaplan, K M Articles by Herndon, J L

Breast cancer screening among relatives of women with breast cancer.

K M Kaplan, G B Weinberg, A Small and J L Herndon

Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.

BACKGROUND. National surveys indicate that only 15% to 30% of all women in the general population 50 years of age or older have an annual mammogram. METHODS. We studied first-degree female relatives of women with breast cancer, who are at elevated risk of disease, to describe the breast cancer screening practices of these relatives and to improve their practices through a program of intensive education. We report here the screening behaviors of 2471 relatives of women with breast cancer. RESULTS. Self-reported behaviors were as follows: 49% performed monthly breast self-examination and 70% had annual breast examinations by a medical professional. Of 983 women 50 years of age or older, 49% had had a mammogram, but only 14% have a mammogram annually. Of women 50 years of age or older who had never had a mammogram, 92% reported never having had one recommended by a medical professional. CONCLUSIONS. Our findings indicate that screening behaviors in relatives of breast cancer patients are not substantially different from those of women in the general population. Enhanced efforts both to educate medical professionals and to encourage women to demand screening mammography are necessary to reduce breast cancer mortality.

Related articles in AJPH:

Screening behaviors among relatives of breast cancer patients.

V G Vogel
AJPH 1992 82: 1420. [PDF]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. Lounsbury, B. Rapkin, L. Marini, E. Jansky, and M. J. Massie Perspective: The Community Barometer: A Breast Health Needs Assessment Tool for Community-Based Organizations Health Educ Behav, October 1, 2006; 33(5): 558 - 573. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. M. Murabito, J. C. Evans, M. G. Larson, B. E. Kreger, G. L. Splansky, K. M. Freund, M. A. Moskowitz, and P. W. F. Wilson Family Breast Cancer History and Mammography: Framingham Offspring Study Am. J. Epidemiol., November 15, 2001; 154(10): 916 - 923. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Brain, P. Norman, J. Gray, and R. Mansel Anxiety and Adherence to Breast Self-Examination in Women With a Family History of Breast Cancer Psychosom Med, March 1, 1999; 61(2): 181 - 187. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]