Genetic counseling and testing for breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility: what do women want?

Abstract

When feasible, the optimal approach may be for oncologists to work with genetic counselors to provide pretest education and medical recommendations. Elicitation of patients' preferences may be useful to determine the level of counseling services needed.

Genetic services for men: The preferences of men with a family history of prostate cancer

“…tremely" [5]). Twenty-two percent (21.8%) of the men were "extremely" concerned about their family history of cancer, and only 6.4% indicated they were "not at all" concerned.…”

“…Twenty-two percent (21.8%) of the men were "extremely" concerned about their family history of cancer, and only 6.4% indicated they were "not at all" concerned. Respondents thought the amount of information they had received about their prostate cancer risk was less than enough with a mean rating for the amount of information of 2.15 (SD ϭ 0.92, range: "not enough" [1], "enough" [3], "too much" [5]). A total of 59.6% of respondents indicated they had received less than enough information about this risk.…”

“…Partner concern about family history was assessed with one item using a 5-point Likert-type scale, with response options ranging from "not at all concerned" (1) to "extremely concerned" (5). Partners were categorized, using a median split, into those with low and high concern about family history.…”

“…In cancer genetics particularly, the delivery of genetic services has been largely influenced by the experiences of women with, or at risk of developing, hereditary breast-ovarian cancer. [5][6][7] One retrospective study examined the needs of men with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations and found them generally satisfied with genetic counseling, but this did not ascertain preferences. It cannot be assumed that men at risk of other hereditary cancer predispositions have the same needs as men with mutations predisposing predominantly to breast cancer.…”

Tailoring communication in consultations with women from high risk breast cancer families

“…Studies that have examined levels of breast cancer genetics knowledge among women with a family history of breast cancer (Lerman et al, 1996Hughes et al, 1997;Wonderlick and Fine, 1997;Cull et al, 1998;Bluman et al, 1999;Donovan and Tucker, 2000) have found wide variation in knowledge about many facets of genetic testing, including the cancer risks associated with different genes and different mutations and the effectiveness of interventions, for example screening, chemoprevention, or surgery for reducing risk (Geller et al, 1997;Audrain et al, 1998;Bluman et al, 1999).…”