Identification and screening of women at high risk of breast cancer.

First- and second-order female relatives of newly treated breast cancer patients who received their care by private practice surgeons were contacted to determine the feasibility of identifying an at-risk population, to ascertain screening practices, and to promote breast cancer screening. Utilizing the breast cancer patient as the primary contact, 42% of relatives participated. Only 32% of relatives reported ever having had a mammogram (40% of those 50 years of age and over), and 52% practiced monthly breast self-examination (BSE). Screening practices correlated with race, with having been taught BSE, and with income; 73% of relatives planned to be screened subsequent to contact. The results of this study indicate a low use of established screening modalities such as BSE and mammography.