Smoking and breast cancer screening in West Virginia: opportunities for intervention

Smoking has been increasingly identified as a risk factor for breast cancer among women. West Virginia has high rates of smoking, which can be further examined in relation to breast cancer screening and smoking related variables. This study used 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data to examine the relationship between smoking related variables and breast cancer screening behaviors among women in West Virginia age 40 and older. Findings showed that approximately 21.6% of women in the sample were current smokers, with a majority of these women smoking every day (82.5%). Half of the women in the study sample had made at least one past year quit attempt. Current smokers were less likely to have had breast cancer screening in the past one or two years, and among these women who smoke, every day smokers were less likely to obtain breast cancer screening. Smokers who did not make a quit attempt during the past year were also significantly less likely to have had mammography screening. Study results highlight an unmet need and opportunity for intervention related to breast cancer screening among women who smoke, and especially those with higher smoking intensity. Smoking status and smoking intensity should be recognized as predictors of women who are less likely to obtain breast cancer screening. These women can be identified and targeted as an important high risk population with unmet need for smoking cessation and breast cancer screening interventions.