LUNA and the Breast Cancer Fund recently issued a survey to gain better understanding about women’s knowledge of breast cancer prevention. This 2007 online survey polled 500 females, ages 18-60. The results, summarized below, give insight into common misperceptions about breast cancer and prove that women are interested in learning more about prevention.

Understanding the Risk 

• 75 percent of women did not know a woman’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is 1 in 8.

• 67 percent of women have been affected by breast cancer at some point in their lives.

• 82 percent of women know that breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide.

Craving Information on Prevention

• More than half of women consider themselves educated about breast cancer, but are not aware of ways to prevent the disease.

• 87 percent of women do not feel they know how to prevent breast cancer.

• 71 percent of women did not realize 1/3 of personal care products contain at least one chemical linked to cancer.

• Only 8 percent of women are aware that plastic/vinyl is a common substance that is linked to breast cancer.

• 62 percent of women believe getting a mammogram on a regular basis reduces their risk of getting breast cancer. In reality, mammograms help detect breast cancer, but do not reduce a person’s risk of getting the disease.

• 79 percent of women incorrectly think that when a tumor is spotted from a mammogram it has been growing for 1-2 years. Typically a tumor has been growing for 5-6 years by the time of detection.

Taking Action

• Almost half of women would like to get involved in raising breast cancer awareness, but do not know of programs in their communities.

• 89 percent of women have thought about breast cancer prevention at some point in their lives.

• 61 percent of women believe it’s possible to prevent breast cancer.