Promoting breast health among women in the U.S. Virgin Islands: a focused study of the needs of Caribbean women.

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among women in the United States Virgin Islands. Consequently, the Bureau of Health has identified breast cancer as a priority health concern. Within the medical community, increasing emphasis is being placed on the importance of hereditary, familial, environmental, and behavioral risk factors to breast cancer control. Little research has been conducted regarding these factors, however, to explore their influence on breast cancer detection and breast cancer risk management. This report highlights the outcomes of a study undertaken to explore the associations between breast cancer risk, risk assessment, risk communication, screening, and receptivity to the management of breast cancer risk among women from the United States Virgin Islands. Results of this study suggest a need within the territory to expand the systems that are responsible for monitoring and reporting breast cancer trends; forums to discuss concerns of women relative to breast health; forums to discuss communication with health-care providers; and, research efforts that address breast cancer detection and control among women in the United States Virgin Islands.