ABSTRACT
Mrs. H., a thirty-eight-year-old single mother with three children, had a family history of breast cancer (her sister was currently being treated for it, and her mother, after a long struggle, died from its effects). Because Mrs. H. was now the sole support for her children, she felt a strong need to take good care of herself and would do anything to maintain her health. She breast-fed her children for a short time, believing that it was protective. She was aware of the controversy surrounding mammograms (some women had developed breast cancer even though their mammograms had been negative), so she avoided them. She had heard that selenium supplements were helpful, so she began taking two 100-microgram tablets a day. Mrs. H. also read that ginseng, garlic, and St. John’s wort might be helpful, so she purchased bottles of these supplements and took one pill of each per day. Even though she was unemployed outside the home, in order not to become too stressed, she began taking afternoon naps to reduce her stress levels. As a result, she began to stay up late to watch TV, indulging in her favorite snacks beyond the eyes of her children. Mrs. H. believed there was enough mandatory physical activity around the house, so she seldom took walks or engaged in any exercise. She had discontinued service with her health management organization because she thought she was being overcharged.
