Table 2.

Interview Responses: Risk^*

	Persons responding (%)†
1. Personal risk perceptions
a. “Where does breast cancer fit into your other health problems?” (n = 33)
Bottom of list	12 (36)
Don't think about it	6 (18)
On top of list	4 (12)
All mixed up together	3 (9)
No response/not applicable‡	8 (24)
b. “Do you feel like you are high risk for breast cancer?” (n = 31)
Don't feel high risk	20 (65)
Not sure/sometimes feel high risk	12 (39)
Yes-feel high risk	11 (35)
Don't think about/dwell on it	10 (30)
Women giving more than 1 response during interview§	13 (42)
2. Meaning of “high risk”: (Some individuals gave multiple responses)§
a. “Why did you first come to this high risk clinic?” (n = 33)
For family history of cancer	25 (76)
For breast problem/pain	16 (48)
Seeking gene testing	1 (3)
b. “What does being “high risk” mean to you?” (n = 33)
Family history	23 (67)
Keep an eye on it/catch it early	15 (45)
Increased probability of cancer	3 (9)
3. Causes of breast cancer: (Some individuals gave multiple responses)§
a. “Why do you think women get breast cancer?” (n = 33)
Heredity/gene	29 (88)
Emotional	21 (64)
Stress/anger	13 (39)
Worry/dwell on it	12 (36)
Don't know	18 (55)
Spiritual (God's will/“what happens happens”)	14 (42)
Lifestyle habits	14 (42)
Diet/chemicals in food	11 (33)
Smoking/drinking	5 (15)
Not taking care of body/not getting checked	7 (21)
Hormones (HRT, OCT)	8 (24)
Bruises/trauma to breasts	4 (12)
Reproductive risks (e.g., age at childbirth, breastfeeding)	3 (9)
Large breasts	2 (6)

^*Question format varied. See Appendix A

^†Some individuals did not respond to all questions

^‡Several individuals had no co-morbidities (see Table 1)

^§Because some individuals gave multiple responses per category, percent totals do not add up to 100%. Quantities indicate the strength of response to themes identified in the qualitative coding