IntroductionBreast cancer is the most common malignant disease and the second leading cause of cancer death among women [1,2]. Most women with breast cancer have a sporadic rather than an inherited breast cancer [2]. Early onset at diagnosis and family history of breast cancer are generally considered indicators of genetic susceptibility to breast cancer. Several studies have shown that early onset breast cancer displays histological features of aggressive cancer phenotype that have AbstractIntroduction: Breast cancer is both genetically and histopathologically heterogeneous disease. The biological basis for this heterogeneity is unknown, although there are some distinct phenotype-genotype correlations. Approximately 5% to 10% of breast cancer is hereditary and BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for the majority of the hereditary cases of breast cancer. According to the existing literature BRCA1 and BRCA2 associated breast cancer, it has been shown that BRCA associated breast cancers have different clinical, histological and immune-phenotypic features. To validate the effect of BRCA 1 or BRCA 2 germ line mutations on breast cancer aggressiveness and its impact on breast cancer clinical and histological features, we compared the histological, molecular status and clinical variables of 32 breast cancer patients with BRCA gene pathogenic mutations carriers and to the histopathological and molecular characteristics of 50 patients affected with breast cancer in the same age group but with no pathogenic mutations or variants of unknown significant (VUS) in either BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

This article presents an overview of the cancer genetics program in Qatar. In addition to summarizing clinical, research, educational, and other aspects, data related to testing outcomes (over the course of approximately 5.5 years) are presented.

BackgroundAn insufficient number of studies have been carried out in the Middle East to evaluate the role of structured psychotherapeutic interventions in enhancing breast cancer patients’ psychological well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance. This study has been designed to address this limitation by exploring the benefit of two structured psychotherapeutic interventions, crisis counseling and psychoeducation, in enhancing breast cancer patients’ psychological well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance in Qatar.MethodsA total of 201 women with early-stage breast cancer from the state of Qatar were recruited and randomized into either the control group or one of the treatment groups (crisis counseling or psychoeducation). Each of the two treatment interventions consisted of a total of six 60- to 90-minute sessions, which were provided over a period of 12 weeks. The short- and long-term benefits of the crisis counseling and psychoeducation interventions were evaluated in terms of improving patients’ psychological well-being, quality of life and treatment compliance by asking all the patients to complete the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, 21 item version (DASS-21) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life scale (QLQ-C30) instruments at different points in time and by monitoring their compliance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.ResultsThis study revealed that both of the study interventions, crisis counseling and psychoeducation, were effective in improving women’s psychological well-being and quality of life over time in comparison to the control group, but had no significant impact on patients’ compliance with treatment. In addition, the study showed that psychoeducation conferred a greater advantage than did the crisis counseling model, especially in improving women’s psychological well-being over time.ConclusionThis study is considered the first of its kind in Qatar to provide evidence on the benefit of crisis counseling and psychoeducation interventions in improving the psychological well-being and quality of life of women with early-stage breast cancer in Qatar. In addition, this study has provided innovative research that can be used as evidence to propose changes to the psychotherapy services for breast cancer patients in Qatar. This research study aims to provide a first step toward further research in the future, which will hopefully lead to a better health care system for cancer patients in Qatar.

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