PERCEIVED RISK, ANXIETY, MAMMOGRAM UPTAKE, AND BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION OF WOMEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST-CANCER - THE ROLE OF KNOWING TO BE AT INCREASED RISK

Since women with a first-degree relative with breast cancer are at inc reased risk for breast cancer, it is of special importance that they a dhere to early detection programs. In this study, women with (389) and without (3295) a family history of breast cancer were compared with r espect to risk perception, breast cancer anxiety, and early detection behavior. Special attention was paid to the role of knowing that famil y history is a breast cancer risk factor. It was found that 46% of ''f amily history positives'' did not know that their risk was increased b y their family history. Still, family history positives had increased risk perception; our results suggest that this was partly caused by th eir knowing they belonged to a risk group and partly by their having e xperienced the disease at close range. Although family history positiv es had higher risk perceptions, no differences in early detection beha vior were found. This could not be attributed to high anxiety levels. Implications for health education are discussed.