Abstract A010: Primary prevention across the life course: Findings from the young women's breast cancer and media study
Authors: Klassen Ann Carroll , Perera Udara , Grossman Suzanne , Martinez-Donate Ana , Villanueva Augusta , Flores Zujeil , Leader Amy , Juon HeeSoon 
Published: August 2020

Introduction: Breast cancer is typically seen as a disease of mid-life, but growing evidence supports primary prevention throughout women's lives. Little is known about the salience of breast cancer prevention messages for younger women, especially those at risk for breast cancer disparities.

Description: Our multiphase exploratory project first analyzed a purposive sample of news and popular media messages on breast cancer aimed at young adults. We then used these mainstream and tailored media examples in 7 focus groups with Philadelphia-area African-American, Latina, Asian-American, and sexual minority women age 21-30. Identity-concordant moderators explored knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding health in general and breast cancer specifically, and media credibility and usage patterns. Then, guided discussion of breast cancer-related media examples was used to explore audience interpretation and response to messaging. Responses to a brief structured survey and transcribed audio-recordings of focus group discussions were analyzed.

Findings: Participants had diverse levels of socioeconomic and health-related resources: 40% were born outside of the U.S., 37% were uninsured, and 37% had &lt; high school education. Most used social media (i.e., 86% Facebook, 71% Instagram), 83% read on-line news at least weekly, and 63% had searched on-line for cancer information. When asked about cancer prevention across the life course, many young women expressed limitations on ideal health behaviors at their current life stage, due to economic constraints or stressors related to school, job or family. Respondents had little knowledge of evidence supporting risk-reducing behaviors, such as breast feeding, diet and physical activity, or limiting alcohol. Most found both mainstream and culturally tailored messages about breast cancer new and compelling; however, some challenged group-specific risk information or saw culturally tailored messages as geared to older, less acculturated women. Although young women recognized the importance of risk reduction, most felt that behavior change would be more feasible, and more important, when they were older.

Conclusions: Young women of all backgrounds and levels of access to information are not well informed about primary prevention of breast cancer. Tailored information has salience but may also need to consider generational and life-stage effects. Planning for health behavior change during young adult transitional stages appears highly salient, but must consider life roles, which widely differ by SES and culture.

Citation Format: Ann Carroll Klassen, Udara Perera, Suzanne Grossman, Ana Martinez-Donate, Augusta Villanueva, Zujeil Flores, Amy Leader, HeeSoon Juon. Primary prevention across the life course: Findings from the young women's breast cancer and media study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr A010.