ORLANDO — Older women with a family history of breast cancer place extraordinary faith in mammography over clinical breast exam for reassurance about their breast health, according to Karen Greco, R.N., Ph.D., lead investigator of a small, qualitative study on mammography decision making.
Furthermore, many of these women may not appreciate their potentially increased risk for hereditary cancer syndromes, added Dr. Greco, who presented her study as a poster at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America.
“The women in my study were not aware that if they had a first-degree relative with breast cancer and another one with ovarian cancer, that there was a connection,” she said in an interview. “Although some had been asked about family history they didn't understand what it meant, and they didn't understand the significance.”
Ten of the 16 women in her study had family histories that suggested they could be at risk for a hereditary cancer syndrome, yet they reported they had not received a cancer risk assessment, said Dr. Greco of the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing in West Linn.
The study included 16 women over age 65 years (average age 73) who were at increased risk for breast cancer because of family history—at least one first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer—and advancing age. The women were interviewed regarding their decisions about screening mammography.
Although 15 of the 16 women had regular visits with their health care provider, and 14 had regular mammograms, less than half (7) said they received regular clinical breast exams, Dr. Greco said.