The psychological impact of undergoing genetic-risk profiling in men with a family history of prostate cancer

Abstract

Personalised genetic-risk assessments do not prevent men from overestimating their risk of PrCa. Screening anxiety is common, and timeframes for receiving results should be kept to a minimum. Methods of risk communication in men at risk of PrCa should be the subject of future research.

Psychosocial impact of undergoing prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations

“…Evidence supports the theory that genetic testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations does not have a significant long‐term psychological impact on most people tested . Studies in men undergoing PCa screening suggest that a minority experience some anxiety, usually while waiting for results . Risk factors for anxiety include having a family history of PCa, symptoms or abnormal genetic test results .…”

The New Genomics Era: Integration of genomics into mainstream oncology and implications for psycho‐oncological care

“…There is more to the development of disease than genetics alone, with lifestyle factors also having significant influence on risk. Several studies have found that regardless of risk perception, being given a personal polygenic risk score for risk of breast or prostate cancer did not have an impact on emotional state …”

“…It is important to be attentive to emotions and consider genetic risk discussions as a two‐way conversation rather than one‐sided information giving . Clinicians should be mindful that a person's life experience will influence their interpretation of risk, and research has shown that people do not change these risk perceptions when provided with new risk information; it may have some impact, but life experience plays the larger role . Patients with cancer often have theories about why they were diagnosed and wonder about the impact of lifestyle factors.…”

“…Several studies have found that regardless of risk perception, being given a personal polygenic risk score for risk of breast or prostate cancer did not have an impact on emotional state. 22,23 7 | PHARMACOGENOMICS Genomics has potential to personalise prescribing through use of pharmacogenomics. Drug treatments have various effects in different people; for example, with drugs like statins or antihypertensives, it is often trial and error between the general practitioner (GP) and patient to work out, which medication works for the individual and at what dose.…”

“…33 Clinicians should be mindful that a person's life experience will influence their interpretation of risk, and research has shown that people do not change these risk perceptions when provided with new risk information; it may have some impact, but life experience plays the larger role. 22,23 Patients with cancer often have theories about why they were diagnosed and wonder about the impact of lifestyle factors. The challenge is to explore these issues to enable informed decisions without overloading with excessively complex information.…”