{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T17:36:54Z","timestamp":1786988214543,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":52,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1786924800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Cancer Research UK International Early Detection of Cancer Alliance","award":["EDDAMC-2023\/100004"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["EDDAMC-2023\/100004"]}]},{"name":"Manchester Academic Health Science Centre (MAHSC): Cancer Domain."},{"name":"National Institute for Health Research Manchester Biomedical Research Centre","award":["NIHR203308"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR203308"]}]},{"name":"Cancer Research UK Career Development Fellowship","award":["RCCCDF-May25\/100006"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["RCCCDF-May25\/100006"]}]},{"name":"NIHR Senior Investigator","award":["NIHR305827"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["NIHR305827"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Inequalities in breast screening uptake and cancer outcomes persist among under-served women. To reduce disparities, it is essential to understand women\u2019s views when developing proactive early detection and prevention services. This study explored the acceptability of introducing a breast cancer risk assessment service for women aged 30\u201349, offering early screening and\/or risk-reducing medication to those at moderate or high-risk. We conducted extensive engagement with six communities of typically under-served women, selected to represent diverse and overlapping sources of disadvantage: (1) South Asian Muslim women, (2) Black women, (3) Roma women, (4) women in low socio-economic neighbourhoods, (5) women with learning disabilities and\/or autism, and (6) women with long-term anxiety and\/or depression. Fifty-two women participated in 10 focus groups and one interview. Data were analysed using a thematic framework approach. All groups were enthusiastic about a breast cancer risk assessment for young women. Across groups, female healthcare staff, local delivery, a straightforward process, and assurances about data privacy were valued to reduce barriers and promote engagement. Women also supported local events to promote risk assessment and breast cancer awareness. Concerns about the emotional impact of risk information highlighted the need for clear communication and tailored support across groups. Among ethnic minority women, breast cancer was often seen as taboo, limiting discussion and complicating the sharing of family history. These findings highlight that under-served women face both shared and unique challenges. To enhance uptake and reduce longstanding early detection inequalities, risk assessment services should be culturally sensitive, streamlined, and supported by community-based awareness initiatives.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0356263","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]],"date-time":"2026-08-17T17:21:31Z","timestamp":1786987291000},"page":"e0356263","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Acceptability of breast cancer risk assessment for women aged 30\u201349: Views of women from six under-served groups"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4069-5188","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Victoria G.","family":"Woof","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8786-9731","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Maria","family":"Valasaki","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francisca","family":"Stutzin Donoso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorna","family":"McWilliams","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Helen","family":"Morley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Juliet","family":"Usher-Smith","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7663-7804","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"David P.","family":"French","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,17]]},"reference":[{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0356263.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"544","DOI":"10.1016\/j.canep.2013.05.001","article-title":"Trends in incidence of breast cancer among women under 40 in seven European countries: a GRELL cooperative study","volume":"37","author":"B Lecl\u00e8re","year":"2013","journal-title":"Cancer Epidemiol"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0356263.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1016\/S2214-109X(20)30215-1","article-title":"Global burden and trends in premenopausal and postmenopausal breast cancer: a population-based study","volume":"8","author":"E Heer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet Glob Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0356263.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"237","DOI":"10.1053\/j.seminoncol.2009.03.001","article-title":"Breast cancer before age 40 years","volume":"36","author":"CK Anders","year":"2009","journal-title":"Semin Oncol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0356263.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"169","DOI":"10.1016\/S1470-2045(17)30891-4","article-title":"Germline BRCA mutation and outcome in young-onset breast cancer (POSH): a prospective cohort study","volume":"19","author":"ER Copson","year":"2018","journal-title":"Lancet Oncol"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0356263.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1636","DOI":"10.1038\/s41416-023-02145-w","article-title":"Proactive breast cancer risk assessment in primary care: a review based on the principles of screening","volume":"128","author":"JA Usher-Smith","year":"2023","journal-title":"Br J Cancer"},{"key":"pone.0356263.ref006","unstructured":"National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). 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