BACKGROUND Few data exist on attendance for cervical and breast cancer screening, breast self-examination and knowledge about risk factors for cervical cancer among German women. A population-based survey was performed in the city of Bielefeld in Germany. METHOD A questionnaire was mailed to 1500 randomly selected women age 25 to 75. Of those, 540 questionnaires were returned and 532 were analysed. RESULTS Women participating in the survey considered themselves well informed about possibilities for early detection of breast cancer (84.0%). Most information was received from office-based gynaecologists (82.4%). 82.8% had a breast examination by a medical doctor annually and 43.1% practised breast self-examination every month. 55.5% of the women had had a mammography, 72.5% gave screening as a reason for a mammogram. Age at first mammography was associated with social class (p<0.001). Cytological smears for early detection of cervical cancer were common and obtained frequently. Age at first Pap smear was associated with social class (p<0.001). 69.9% of the women considered themselves insufficiently informed on risk factors for cervical cancer. Women were poorly informed about risk factors for cervical cancer. Only 3.2% knew that infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for cervical cancer. Giving a correct answer was associated with social class (p<0.001) but not with age. CONCLUSION Rates of opportunistic mammography screening were high in the study population. Information on risk factors for cervical cancer was scarce. Efforts should be made to improve women's knowledge about risk factors for cervical cancer. KEY POINTS What do German women know about screening for breast and cervical cancer offered annually by health insurances at no cost? Most women participating in the survey considered themselves well informed about possibilities for early detection of breast cancer. Over two third of the women considered themselves insufficiently informed on risk factors for cervical cancer. Only 3.2% of the women knew that infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is a risk factor for cervical cancer. There is a pressing need in Germany for better education of the general public on risk factors for cervical cancer.

Biometrical JournalVolume 46, Issue S1 p. 6-6 Oral Sessions Abstracts S03.1: Cancer mortality of German titanium dioxide workers Stefanie Klug, Stefanie Klug klug@imbei.uni-mainz.de Search for more papers by this authorMaria Blettner, Maria BlettnerSearch for more papers by this authorMelanie Hetzer, Melanie HetzerSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Soutar, Anne SoutarSearch for more papers by this authorIngo Langner, Ingo LangnerSearch for more papers by this authorPaolo Boffetta, Paolo BoffettaSearch for more papers by this author Stefanie Klug, Stefanie Klug klug@imbei.uni-mainz.de Search for more papers by this authorMaria Blettner, Maria BlettnerSearch for more papers by this authorMelanie Hetzer, Melanie HetzerSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Soutar, Anne SoutarSearch for more papers by this authorIngo Langner, Ingo LangnerSearch for more papers by this authorPaolo Boffetta, Paolo BoffettaSearch for more papers by this author First published: 17 March 2004 https://doi.org/10.1002/bimj.200490111AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume46, IssueS1Supplement: Abstracts of the Joint Meeting of the IBS‐DR and the DAEMarch 2004Pages 6-6 RelatedInformation

The occurrence and number of melanocytic nevi are among the most important known risk factors for the development of malignant melanoma. Studying the causes of nevi should lead to successful strategies in the prevention of melanoma. Among 11,478 white German children of preschool age the association between benign melanocytic nevi and a number of risk factors for skin cancer was examined. We found that subjects with a reported history of increased sun exposure, for example, painful sunburns, and an increased number of holidays in foreign countries with a sunny climate had significantly higher nevus counts than individuals without these characteristics. Our results provide further evidence that nevus counts may not only be part of a genetic predisposition but also a result of increased exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Together with the fact that a high nevus count is the most relevant risk factor for malignant melanoma, the results strongly indicate a connection between UV-radiation and the development of melanocytic skin cancer. In conclusion, strategies to reduce the incidence of melanoma should begin with young children.