Table 3.
Interview Responses: Prevention*
| Persons responding (%)† | |
|---|---|
| 1. Preventive choices and attitudes | |
| a. “Would you ever take a medication to prevent getting breast cancer?” | |
| Among all respondents (n = 32) | |
| No | 17 (53) |
| Yes | 5 (15) |
| Not sure | 6 (18) |
| Taking/taken | 3 (9) |
| Among women offered tamoxifen (n = 19) | |
| No | 13 (68) |
| Yes | 4 (21) |
| Not sure | 2 (11) |
| Reasons given for not taking tamoxifen: (Some individuals gave multiple responses)‡ | |
| Creates problems/cancer/side-effects | 16 (50) |
| To treat/control a problem only | 12 (38) |
| No guarantee/doesn't work | 7 (22) |
| Not a pill taker | 5 (16) |
| b. “How could you prevent getting breast cancer?” (Some individuals gave multiple responses)‡ (n = 33) | |
| Early detection/keep appointments | 22 (67) |
| Lifestyle/care of body | 20 (61) |
| Can't prevent | 13 (39) |
| Faith in God/prayer | 13 (39) |
| Medications/surgery | 6 (18) |
| 2. Gene esting | |
| a. “Would you ever take a gene test to find out if breast cancer runs in your family?” | |
| All respondents (n = 29) | |
| Yes | 16 (55) |
| Not sure/unclear | 7 (24) |
| No | 6 (21) |
| Had testing | 0 (0) |
| Women who had genetic counseling§ (n = 18) | |
| Yes | 11 (61) |
| Not sure/unclear | 3 (17) |
| No | 4 (22) |
| Had testing | 0 (0) |
*
Question format varied. See Appendix A.
†
Some individuals did not respond to all questions.
‡
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.
§
Includes previous genetic risk counseling by a physician or genetic counselor.