Knowledge and perceptions about breast cancer incidence, fatality and risk among Australian women.

OBJECTIVE

Breast cancer is the most common fatal cancer among Australian women. This study aimed to provide an accurate national picture of women's understanding of breast cancer incidence, fatality and risk.

METHOD

A telephone survey explored the knowledge and perceptions of a sample of 2,935 Australian women in relation to breast cancer incidence, fatality, risk factors, risk perception and level of concern.

RESULTS

Australian women were well aware of breast cancer in general terms, however, there were major aspects of incidence and risk which were poorly understood. Only 5% of women nominated age as a risk factor, and only one-third were able to make an approximately correct estimate of the incidence of breast cancer in Australia.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Recommendations for future information campaigns include targeting understanding of lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, age as a risk factor, survival from breast cancer and the need to separately address the perceptions of older versus younger women.