FollowBreast cancers are becoming common disease now-a-days. But in a glaring exposure, a survey says fewer than 10% of women accurately estimate their risk of breast cancer.
A survey of 10,000 women showed that women usually fail to accurately measure the symptoms as they are equally likely to overestimate or underestimate the risk of the disease.
Compared with estimates derived from validated risk formulas, 9.4% of the women provided estimates that were in line with the calculated risk. About 45% of the remaining participates underestimated their risk and 46% overestimated the risk.
The data showed divergence in estimated risk by racial/ethnic group, as minorities were more likely to underestimate their risk of breast cancer, whereas white women overestimated it. A similar proportion of each group accurately estimated their risk, Jonathan Herman, MD, said.
“Despite ongoing media attention, awareness campaigns, pink ribbons, breast cancer walks, and breast cancer month, most women lack accurate knowledge of their own breast cancer risk,” said Herman, of Hofstra North Shore-LIJ Medical School in New Hyde Park, N.Y.
“Patients must have a better understanding of their personal risk,” he added.
A woman’s understanding of her breast cancer risk may influence her interest and participation in cancer screening and prevention.
According to the American Cancer Society, about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer is likely to be diagnosed in women in 2013, and about 39,620 women are estimated to die from the disease.
