Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis in women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths for women in the US. Although young women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than older women, more than 11,000 women under the age of 40 are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Although the causes and risk factors for breast cancer are complex and often not well understood, it is established that a significant percentage of diagnosed breast cancers are due to lifestyle risk factors. A recently published international study that examined more than 10,000 young women found that they had little knowledge of the modifiable lifestyle risk factors associated with breast cancer. The purpose of the current study was to examine the characteristics of young women who are knowledgeable about breast cancer and to determine if their knowledge was associated with behaviors that might lower their risks for breast cancer.
Surveys addressing breast cancer knowledge, susceptibility, severity, and lifestyle behaviors were completed by 523 college women. Survey items were underpinned by constructs from the Health Belief Model and Protection Motivation Theory. Results indicate that knowledge about breast cancer was significantly related to having a family member who has had breast cancer and with having had a college-level health course. Knowledge was also significantly related to perceived susceptibility to breast cancer. Neither knowledge nor susceptibility was significantly associated with any risk reducing behaviors including diet, exercise, or alcohol consumption. The results of this study have implications for health education that can provide information and awareness that enables young women to make healthy decisions and lifestyle choices. Objectives: Participants will be able to *Discuss the incidence of breast cancer among young women *Identify lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer *Identify the levels of breast cancer knowledge among the study participants *Identify the levels of lifestyle behaviors related to breast cancer among the study participants