Beliefs and perceptions about the causes of breast cancer: a case-control study

Abstract

BackgroundAttributions of causality are common for many diseases, including breast cancer. The risk of developing breast cancer can be reduced by modifications to lifestyle and behaviours to minimise exposure to specific risk factors, such as obesity. However, these modifications will only occur if women believe that certain behaviours/lifestyle factors have an impact on the development of breast cancer.MethodThe Breast Cancer, Environment and Employment Study is a case-control study of breast cancer conducted in Western Australia between 2009 and 2011. As part of the study 1109 women with breast cancer and 1633 women without the disease completed a Risk Perception Questionnaire in which they were asked in an open-ended question for specific cause/s to the development of breast cancer in themselves or in others. The study identified specific causal beliefs, and assessed differences in the beliefs between women with and without breast cancer.ResultsThe most common attributions in women without breast cancer were to familial or inherited factors (77.6%), followed by lifestyle factors, such as poor diet and smoking (47.1%), and environmental factors, such as food additives (45.4%). The most common attributions in women with breast cancer were to mental or emotional factors (46.3%), especially stress, followed by lifestyle factors (38.6%) and physiological factors (37.5%), particularly relating to hormonal history.ConclusionsWhile the majority of participants in this study provided one or more causal attributions for breast cancer, many of the reported risk factors do not correspond to those generally accepted by the scientific community. These misperceptions could be having a significant impact on the success of prevention and early detection programs that seek to minimise the pain and suffering caused by this disease. In particular, women who have no family history of the disease may not work to minimise their exposure to the modifiable risk factors.

Causal attribution among women with breast cancer

“…Women with breast cancer tend to attribute the illness to many factors, including: psychological factors and stress, trauma (knocks or bruises) in the breast, religious causes, exposure to chemicals and electronic equipment, bacterial or viral infection and poor luck (Thomson et al 2014). Nevertheless, there is insufficient epidemiological evidence to support such causal attributions (McKenna et al 1999).…”

“…A case-control study (Thomson et al, 2014) conducted with 1109 women with breast cancer and 1633 without the illness carried out in Australia between 2009 and 2011 found that the most common reasons given by non-cancer were related to family or hereditary factors (77.6 %), followed by factors related to lifestyle, such as poor diet and smoking (47.1 %) and environmental factors such as food with pesticides (45.4 %). In the group of women with breast cancer, emotional factors, such as stress were the most cited (46.3 %), followed by factors associated with lifestyle (38.6 %) and physiological factors (37.5 %).…”

“…The causal link is important information for health promotion, including illness awareness, promotion of screening programs, clinical care and public policy development (Thomson et al, 2014). In this context, this study was developed with the main objective of examining causal attributions of cancer in a sample of cancer women.…”

“…Oftentimes, women affected by breast cancer are unaware of the causes associated with the illness. However, there are risk factors for cancer that can be changed, which when altered reduce the risk of illness, such as the adoption of a healthy lifestyle (Dumalao-Canaria et al 2014;Parkin et al 2011;Thomson et al, 2014).…”

Causal attribution to cervical cancer

“…In addition, understanding how women attribute causes to cancer is relevant for health promotion, including a greater awareness and dissemination of early detection programs, treatment and development of public policies. It is known that the causal attributions can affect the response of women to messages in relation to health and the adoption of behaviors related to prevention, including screening tests (13) . Given the above, the aim of this study was to examine and compare the causal attribution of CC in two groups of women: those with Cervical Cancer and those without Cervical Cancer.…”