Relationships among breast cancer perceived absolute risk, comparative risk, and worries

When trying to predict breast cancer screening, it may be important to unde rstand the relationships between perceived breast cancer risks and worries about getting breast cancer. This study examines the extent to which women' s worries about breast cancer correlate with perceptions of both absolute ( assessment of own) and comparative (self versus other) 10-year and lifetime risks. As part of a larger randomized intervention trial concerning hormon e replacement therapy, 581 women participated in a telephone baseline surve y to assess their perceptions of breast cancer risks and worries, Worries a bout getting breast cancer in the next 10 Sears and in one's lifetime were related positively to both absolute and comparative 10-year and lifetime ri sks. The magnitude of these relationships did not differ by time frame. Wor ry about breast cancer is a function of both how a woman views her own risk and how she compares her risk with that of other women. Some practitioners may encourage women to get screened for breast cancer by using emotional a ppeals, such as heightening women's worries about breast cancer by using ri sk information. Our data suggest that they should give careful consideratio n how best to combine, if at all, information about absolute and comparativ e risks. For example, if the motivation to screen Is based on a sequential assessment of risk beginning with comparative and then absolute risk, creat ing communications that heighten perceived risk on both of these risk dimen sions may be needed to evoke sufficient worry to initiate breast cancer scr eening.