Abstract 4460: Breast cancer knowledge and awareness among high school and college students in mid-Western USA

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States among women. Each year approximately 200,000 new cases are reported and 40,000 women succumb to the disease. Early detection and treatment results in good prognosis and higher rates of patient survival; however, despite advanced methods of screening, breast cancer is often detected at an advanced stage when it has metastasized to other organs, particularly in younger, premenopausal patients who typically have a poor understanding of the disease. While educational activities meant to promote breast cancer awareness among women are conducted every year in the USA, especially during the month of October, previous studies show a widespread ignorance of the disease, in both the USA and in women around the world. At present there are no programs in place that specifically promote breast cancer awareness among high school and college students. Such programs would potentially engender the adoption and development of health habits likely to lead to early detection and treatment, including regular screenings and effective self-examination. The main goal of this study was to investigate breast cancer awareness among college and high school students. We used self-administered questionnaires to assess breast cancer perceptions and misconceptions, awareness of risk factors and understanding of breast self-examination. A total of 355 high school students and 132 college students in a Mid-Western area of the USA participated in the study. Our findings were in accordance with previous studies carried out in other regions of the world, showing that a high proportion of students at both high school and college level were largely ignorant of the risk factors associated with breast cancer. Furthermore, a number of misconceptions regarding the disease were common. Only 66% of female college students and 40% of female high school students reported having ever received information on breast self-examination. Interestingly, only half the students who had received instruction reported that they could perform breast self-examination with confidence. Most of the participants however, expressed an eagerness to have more information provided in schools. Consequently we strongly urge the adoption of more breast cancer awareness programs targeting college and high school students. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4460. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4460