Participants were asked to indicate the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with statements related to perceived severity of breast cancer screening. The majority of participants agreed with the statements: The thought of breast cancer scares me (48.6%); If I had breast cancer my academics and career would be endangered (38.1%); My financial security would be endangered if I got breast cancer (33.1%); Problems I would experience from breast cancer would last a long time (40.3%); and If I had breast cancer, my whole life would change (47.8%). Thirty-five percent of the respondents neither agreed nor disagreed that if they got breast cancer, it would be more serious than other diseases. The majority of
participants disagreed with the following statements: When I think about breast cancer I feel nauseous (39.4%); When I think about breast cancer my heart beats faster (39.9%); Breast cancer would endanger my significant relationship (35.1%); Breast cancer is a hopeless disease (44.7%); My feelings about myself would change if I got breast cancer (24.6%); and I am afraid to even think about breast cancer (42%).