Reproductive Cancer Risk Factors Among Relatives of Cancer Patients Seeking Treatment in Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital

Abstract

This study is an attempt to measure the frequency of specific gynecological cancer risk factors in female relatives of cancer patients. A cancer risk assessment questionnaire had been designed in the Department of Preventive Oncology, and filled by relatives of cancer patients admitted to Hacettepe University Oncology Hospital in order to be diagnosed and/or treated. The data were collected through the years 2007 to 2012. The mean age of the study population was 45.7±12.2 years. Median age at menarche was 13 years (IQR, 12-14), 6.9% of the women reported their menarche before age of 12. About 11.1% of the women had intercourse before age of 18. The median age at first delivery was 22 years. Median BMI was 24.9, with 18.3% of obesity. Of the women 65% were current/past smokers. Only 2.5% of women in this study reported at least one positive diagnosis of STDs in their lives. Sixty-two percent of the women had never used condom. About 8% of the women were unaware about mammography and 17.7% about the Pap test. Compared to general Turkish population, women participated in this study were more likely to be older. The prevalence of some reproductive cancer risk factors was consistent with estimates provided in the literature, but not all of them. Compared to the Pap test awareness and behavior of the women were better about mammography. Considering our results, some measures should be put in place to increase people's awareness, and to modify their behavior toward cancer screening tools. For cancer prevention, people’s lifestyle modification is required. These findings indicate need for further and more generalized studies to measure cancer risk factors prevalence in general Turkish population.