Catharine Wang|Suzanne M. Miller|Brian L. Egleston|Jennifer L. Hay|David S. Weinberg
Beliefs about the causes of breast and colorectal cancer among women in the general population
Boston University|Fox Chase Cancer Center|Fox Chase Cancer Center|Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center|Fox Chase Cancer Center
describe compare causal beliefs attributions breast colorectal cancer among unaffected women general populationa total 439 unaffected women general population recruited complete webbased survey assessing causal beliefs either breast n 211 colorectal cancer n 228heredity ranked important causal factor followed diet eating habits cancer sites women endorsed following causes breast colorectal cancer respectively heredity 844 785 diet eating habits 464 697 pollution environment 576 403 aging 488 575 alcohol 299 408 smoking 583 508 stress 275 294 lack exercise 357 443 factors prior surgery breast 237 colon 329 changes ones immune system 606breast 592colon also endorsed women significant differences degree endorsement various causes breast colorectal cancer identifiedboth genetic environmental causes breast colorectal cancer endorsed unaffected women misconceptions causes cancers important targets public education risk communication efforts