More than a quarter of women believe there is nothing they can do to reduce their risk of breast cancer, according to a survey.
A YouGov poll for Breakthrough Breast Cancer found an "alarming" number of women in Scotland were unaware that lifestyle changes can help protect against the disease.
However, nearly three-quarters said they would change their lifestyles if they knew it would reduce their risk of breast cancer.
Two-fifths (40%) do not know that regular physical activity can reduce the risk, the charity said.
Around a third (36%) are unaware a healthy weight can help prevent breast cancer and two-fifths (41%) do not know that drinking alcohol regularly can increase the chances of getting the disease.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer is calling for a greater focus on prevention in light of its survey findings.
James Jopling, the charity's director for Scotland, said it is worrying that more than a quarter of the women they surveyed have a fatalistic view of the disease.
"Changes to lifestyle such as being physically active, reducing the amount of alcohol you regularly drink and maintaining a healthy weight can all help women to stack the odds against developing breast cancer," he said.
"Encouragingly though, the survey also tells us that nearly three-quarters of Scottish women (74%) would make changes in lifestyle if they knew they could reduce their risk of developing breast cancer.
"We are calling on the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to consider innovative ways to communicate risk reducing messages to women in Scotland. One way would be to inform women at appropriate opportunities such as when attending breast screening appointments."
More than 4,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Scotland each year, although survival rates are improving, the charity said.
Professor Annie Anderson, co-director at the University of Dundee's Centre for Research in Cancer Prevention and Screening, supports having a greater emphasis on prevention.
"We know that cancer is often cited as the biggest fear of people in Scotland and the UK, and when we ask people what they think causes cancer they often say 'fate, just bad luck'," she said.
"But we know it is an interaction between genetics, lifestyle and the wider factors that influence our choices around eating, drinking and being physically active. This is the message about the preventability of cancer that needs more attention."
The YouGov survey of 557 women was carried out online in April.
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