Table 2 Response of participants to statements on risk factors of breast cancer
Statement | Response | Total (n = 516) | Male (n = 233) | Female (n = 283) | p-valuec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early menarche in a woman increases the risk of developing breast cancer.a | Yes | 99 (19.2) | 59 (25.3) | 40 (14.1) | 0.006* |
No | 106 (20.5) | 44 (18.9) | 62 (21.9) | ||
Don’t know | 311 (60.3) | 130 (55.8) | 181 (64.0) | ||
Women who have delayed menopause are at greater risk of breast cancer. a | Yes | 146 (28.3) | 84 (36.1) | 62 (21.9) | 0.002** |
No | 62 (12.0) | 24 (10.3) | 38 (13.4) | ||
Don’t know | 308 (59.7) | 125 (53.6) | 183 (64.7) | ||
Use of oral contraceptives increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.a | Yes | 184 (35.7) | 84 (36.1) | 100 (35.3) | 0.876 |
No | 63 (12.2) | 30 (12.9) | 33 (11.7) | ||
Don’t know | 269 (52.1) | 119 (51.0) | 150 (53.0) | ||
Breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.a | Yes | 255 (49.4) | 123 (52.8) | 132 (46.6) | 0.381 |
No | 69 (13.4) | 29 (12.4) | 40 (14.1) | ||
Don’t know | 192 (37.2) | 81 (34.8) | 111 (39.3) | ||
Physical exercise reduces the risk of developing breast cancer.a | Yes | 322 (62.4) | 154 (66.1) | 168 (59.4) | 0.287 |
No | 43 (8.3) | 18 (7.7) | 25 (8.8) | ||
Don’t know | 151 (29.3) | 61 (26.2) | 90 (31.8) | ||
A hard blow to the breast may cause a woman to get breast cancer later in life.b | Yes | 181 (35.1) | 81 (34.8) | 100 (35.3) | 0.565 |
No | 77 (14.9) | 39 (16.7) | 38 (13.4) | ||
Don’t know | 258 (50.0) | 113 (48.5) | 145 (51.3) | ||
The constant irritation of a tight bra can, over time, cause breast cancer.b | Yes | 129 (25.0) | 49 (21.0) | 80 (28.3) | 0.121 |
No | 89 (17.2) | 39 (16.7) | 50 (17.7) | ||
Don’t know | 298 (57.8) | 145 (62.3) | 153 (54.0) | ||
In some women, being overweight increases the risk of developing breast cancer.a | Yes | 188 (36.4) | 101 (43.3) | 87 (30.7) | 0.011* |
No | 86 (16.7) | 33 (14.2) | 53 (18.7) | ||
Don’t know | 242 (46.9) | 99 (42.5) | 143 (50.6) | ||
A woman who bears her first child before the age of 30 is more likely to develop breast cancer than a woman who bears her first child after the age of 30.b | Yes | 131 (25.4) | 69 (29.6) | 62 (21.9) | 0.067 |
No | 282 (54.7) | 49 (21.0) | 54 (19.1) | ||
Don’t know | 103 (19.9) | 115 (49.4) | 167 (59.0) | ||
Women with no known risk factors for breast cancer rarely get breast cancer.b | Yes | 167 (32.4) | 84 (36.1) | 83 (29.3) | 0.202 |
No | 60 (11.6) | 23 (9.9) | 37 (13.1) | ||
Don’t know | 289 (56.0) | 126 (54.0) | 163 (57.6) | ||
Some types of fibrocystic breast disease (noncancerous breast lumps) increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer.a | Yes | 292 (56.6) | 123 (52.8) | 169 (59.7) | 0.074 |
No | 32 (6.2) | 20 (8.6) | 12 (4.2) | ||
Don’t know | 192 (37.2) | 90 (38.6) | 102 (36.1) | ||
Breast cancer is more common in 65-year-old women than in 40-year-old women.a | Yes | 115 (22.3) | 52 (22.3) | 63 (22.3) | 0.054 |
No | 160 (31.0) | 84 (36.1) | 76 (26.9) | ||
Don’t know | 241 (46.7) | 97 (41.6) | 144 (50.8) | ||
The most frequently occurring cancer in women is breast cancer.a | Yes | 253 (49.0) | 113 (48.4) | 140 (49.5) | 0.018* |
No | 107 (20.7) | 60 (25.8) | 47 (16.6) | ||
Don’t know | 156 (30.3) | 60 (25.8) | 96 (33.9) | ||
Women over age 70 rarely get breast cancer.b | Yes | 159 (30.8) | 68 (29.2) | 91 (32.2) | 0.434 |
No | 88 (17.1) | 45 (19.3) | 43 (15.2) | ||
Don’t know | 269 (52.1) | 120 (51.5) | 149 (52.6) | ||
Most breast lumps are cancerous.b | Yes | 218 (42.2) | 96 (41.2) | 122 (43.1) | 0.064 |
No | 87 (16.9) | 49 (21.0) | 38 (13.4) | ||
Don’t know | 211 (40.9) | 88 (37.8) | 123 (43.5) |