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. 2025 Mar;30(3):369-383.
doi: 10.1177/13591053241255053. Epub 2024 Jun 10.

Beliefs, screening attitudes and breast cancer awareness of young women with neurofibromatosis type 1: A reflexive thematic analysis

Caitríona Plunkett  1 , Melissa Pilkington  1
Affiliations

Beliefs, screening attitudes and breast cancer awareness of young women with neurofibromatosis type 1: A reflexive thematic analysis

Caitríona Plunkett et al. J Health Psychol. 2025 Mar.

Abstract

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) predisposes individuals to benign and malignant tumours. Young women with NF1 (<50 years) have an up to five-fold increased risk of breast cancer. The UK adopts moderate cancer risk guidelines of NICE, advising women with NF1 to attend breast screening from 40 years. Previous results from a systematic review and meta-analysis found that breast cancer in this cohort predominantly occurs from 34 to 44 years. Without earlier screening, breast awareness is fundamental. Reflexive thematic analysis and semi-structured interview questions based on the health belief model explored whether a tailor-made breast cancer awareness intervention would be beneficial by examining beliefs, screening attitudes and breast cancer awareness of young women with NF1. Findings suggest the establishment of accessible and accurate NF1 and breast awareness information, development and implementation of a breast awareness intervention for young women with NF1, and healthcare professionals.

Keywords: breast awareness intervention; breast cancer awareness; neurofibromatosis type 1; qualitative methods; rare disease research; reflexive thematic analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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