Breast cancer risks for nurses

It’s important for nurses to understand, as women and as healthcare providers, what makes us tick when it comes to issues such as breast cancer screening. Women who are 55 years and older make up more than 65 percent of those women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Unfortunately, this age group also accounts for more than 77 percent of breast cancer deaths.

In Greco’s study, she looks at a group of 22 women, ages 55 to 85, all of whom have had an increased risk of developing breast cancer either because of family history or other risk factors. The goal of the study was to determine whether higher risk would make women more likely to go for regular screening mammograms.

Greco points out some sobering facts about women’s behavior and breast cancer:

• One study found that among women 40 years or older, 35 percent had not gone for a mammogram in the previous two years.
• There was a 3.5 percent decline in mammograms between 2000 and 2005.
• According to a study, as women got older, their physicians were less likely to refer them for routine or screening mammograms.

Greco’s research concludes that women are more likely to show “guarding against cancer’’ behavior, or taking more proactive steps toward protecting their breast health, if there is a triggering event in their life such as a relative’s diagnosis of breast cancer.

Women who exhibit “guarding against cancer’’ behavior are more likely to schedule mammograms, seek doctor visitations and improve lifestyle choices, all in an attempt to reduce their own breast cancer risk.

Next: Surprising beliefs held by women about breast cancer