Older Does Not Always Mean Wiser: Survey Finds Postmenopausal Women Less Concerned About Breast Cancer Than Younger Women
July 25 2006 - 8:30AM
PR Newswire (US)
Academy Award Nominee, Actress and Breast Cancer Survivor, Diahann
Carroll, Joins Effort to Help Women Understand Breast Health as
They Age NEW YORK, July 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Women most at
risk for developing breast cancer were the least likely to realize
it according to a recent, national survey. Being over age 50 places
a woman at an increased risk for developing breast cancer.(1) Yet,
only 37 percent of women aged 55 or older listed breast cancer as a
disease they were most concerned about as they age.(2) "As a nurse
practitioner for more than 30 years, I've seen many older women
diagnosed with breast cancer, and of those women, many thought they
were too old to get it. Some actually denied that they could even
have the disease because of their age," said Susan Wysocki,
president and CEO of the National Association of Nurse
Practitioners in Women's Health. "This survey validates the need to
educate women about their breast health and understand how they can
determine their own risk for breast cancer." The national survey
was conducted by Harris Interactive(R) to better understand women's
current beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and its risks.
Sponsored by the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in
Women's Health (NPWH) and Eli Lilly and Company, the survey is the
cornerstone for a national educational campaign titled, Strength in
Knowing: The Facts and Fiction of Breast Cancer Risk. "I was
diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 63, and because I had no
family history of breast cancer, I didn't know I was at risk just
because of my age," said Academy Award Nominee, Actress and breast
cancer survivor Diahann Carroll. "Now I constantly ask my
healthcare professionals questions about my health, including my
breast health, because I've learned that it is my responsibility to
find out what will keep me as healthy as I can be." Diahann Carroll
is a breast cancer survivor and Academy Award Nominated actress
best known for her ground breaking roles as a single-working mother
in the 1960's drama, "Julia" and as the outspoken Dominique
Deveraux in "Dynasty." When a mammogram detected a lump, Ms.
Carroll took charge of her health, and urges other women to do the
same. "Women need to understand that their health -- including
their breast health -- is their responsibility," adds Ms. Carroll.
"There is strength in knowing how to take care of yourself so that
you can be as healthy as possible -- asking your doctor questions,
seeking out information and eating well and exercising are crucial
components to leading a healthy lifestyle." Survey Findings(2) The
survey, which polled 1,158 U.S. women aged 35+, revealed that women
did not identify age as a primary risk factor for breast cancer.
Specifically, the survey showed: * More women (71 percent) ranked
family history as an "extremely" or "very" important risk factor
for breast cancer compared to increasing age (36 percent),(2) when
in fact only 15 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer have
a family member with the disease.(3) * 75 percent of women surveyed
did not recognize that being over age 50 presents the greatest risk
for developing breast cancer. * Only 37 percent of women aged 55+
listed breast cancer as a disease they were most concerned about as
they age. * One-third (33 percent) of women mistakenly believe that
the importance of a regular mammogram decreases with age. 23
percent indicated they believe that the age at which the importance
of getting a mammogram starts to decrease is at some point after
age 60. * More than one third of women (35 percent) indicated they
got most of their health information from a family physician, with
the Internet being ranked second (18 percent), the news media third
(17 percent) and an OB/GYN fourth (16 percent). Breast Cancer and
Age Approximately 200,000 new breast cancer cases develop in the
United States each year.(4) When assessing the risk of developing
breast cancer, simply being a woman is the most significant factor,
followed by age.(1) Age is one of the most significant risk factors
for breast cancer. From ages 30 to 39, the risk of developing
breast cancer is one out of 229; from ages 40 to 49, the risk is
one out of 68; however, from ages 50 to 59, the risk jumps to one
out of 37 and from ages 60 to 69, the risk is one out of 26.(5) It
is important that women talk with their doctor or healthcare
professional to separate the myths from the facts in breast health.
While no one knows the exact cause of breast cancer, women who know
the facts about risk factors may be better equipped to address
their breast health, including scheduling clinical breast exams and
mammograms. About Strength in Knowing: The Facts and Fiction of
Breast Cancer Risk Strength in Knowing: The Facts and Fiction of
Breast Cancer Risk, sponsored by the National Association of Nurse
Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) and Eli Lilly and Company,
is a national education campaign designed to help women separate
the facts from fiction regarding breast health. For information on
breast health and questions to ask a doctor or healthcare
professional about the risk factors for breast cancer, go to
http://www.strengthinknowing.com/. About the Survey This survey was
conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of the National
Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health and Eli Lilly
and Company between January 17 to 19, 2006 among 1,158 U.S. adult
women aged 35 and older, of whom 979 have had a mammogram. Figures
for region, age within gender, education, household income and
race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into
line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity
score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents' propensity
to be online. With a pure probability sample of 1,158 U.S. adult
women one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the
overall results have a sampling error of +/-5 percentage points.
Sampling error for various sub- samples is higher and varies.
However that does not take other sources of error into account.
This online survey is not based on a probability sample and
therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Complete
survey results are available at http://www.strengthinknowing.com/,
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/ or upon request. About Diahann
Carroll Diahann Carroll is an American actress and singer. Her
television nominations go back to 1963 for outstanding single
performance by an actress in a leading role for the series "Naked
City." In 1968, she became the first black actress in television
history to star in her own series, "Julia," for NBC, which soared
to the top of the Nielsen ratings and received an Emmy nomination
in its first year on the air, for best actress starring in a
comedy. In 1992, she received the Women in Film Crystal Award for
her excellence in work and for the accomplishment and contributions
she has made to the advancement of women in the entertainment
industry. Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1998 and
underwent surgery and radiation therapy. Since then, she has worked
to increase cancer awareness and help women with limited resources
get breast cancer screenings. Carroll serves as a spokeswoman for
the National Women's Cancer Research Alliance and has been a major
supporter of the Westside Challenge to Beat Breast Cancer in Los
Angeles, Calif. About The National Association of Nurse
Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH) The National Association of
Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (formerly the National
Association of Nurse Practitioners in Reproductive Health) was
founded in 1980. NPWH's mission is to assure the provision of
quality health care to women of all ages by nurse practitioners.
NPWH defines quality health care to be inclusive of an individual's
physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. NPWH is a trusted source
of information on nurse practitioner education, practice, and
women's health issues. NPWH works with a wide range of individuals
and groups within nursing, medicine, the health care industry, and
the women's health community. About Eli Lilly and Company Lilly, a
leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing
portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical
products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide
laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific
organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Lilly
provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some
of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information
about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/. O-LLY. About
Harris Interactive Harris Interactive is the 13th largest and
fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company
provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its
clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and
enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely
known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent
opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods.
The company has built what could conceivably be the world's largest
panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris
Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States,
Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in
France and through a global network of independent market research
firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research
industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development
services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation.
More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/. To become a member of the Harris
Poll Online, visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/. MG-41319 706
Printed in USA (C) 2006 Eli Lilly and Company All Rights Reserved
(1) What causes breast cancer? American Cancer Society. Accessed at
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_2_2X_What_causes_breast_cancer
_5.asp?sitearea=. on July 14, 2006. (2) Executive Summary for
Breast Cancer Study conducted by Harris Interactive(R) via
QuickQuery(SM) online omnibus service, January 17-19, 206: 1-12 (3)
Signs and Symptoms. National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.
Accessed at http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/signs_and_symptoms/
on June 7, 2005. (4) Cancer Facts and Figures 2005. American Cancer
Society. Accessed at
http://www.cancer.org/downloads/STT/CAFF2005f4PWSecured.pdf on Jan.
5, 2006. (5) Screening Mammograms: Questions and Answers. National
Cancer Institute. Accessed at
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/screening-mammograms
on July 18, 2006. DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company; National
Association of Nurse Practitioners in CONTACT: Keri McGrath of
Lilly, +1-317-651-6001; or Heather Hinckley of MS&L,
+1-212-468-3725
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