Breast cancer risk perception: what do we know and understand?

Women's perceptions of breast cancer risk are largely inaccurate and are of ten associated with high levels of anxiety about cancer. There are interest ing cultural differences that are not well researched. Genetic risk counsel ling significantly improves accuracy of women's perceptions of risk, but no t necessarily to the correct level. Reasons for this are unclear, but may r elate to personal beliefs about susceptibility and to problems or variation s in risk communication. Research into the impact of demographic and psycho logical factors on risk perception has been inconclusive. An understanding of the process of developing a perception of risk would help to inform risk counselling strategies. This is important, because knowledge of risk is ne eded both for appropriate health care decision making and to reassure women who are not at increased risk.