Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information. | ||||||||
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Genetic uptake in BRCA-mutation families is related to emotional and behavioral communication characteristics of index patients.Landsbergen K, Verhaak C, Kraaimaat F, Hoogerbrugge N Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. K.Landsbergen@antrg.umcn.nl INTRODUCTION: Carriers of a hereditary mutation in BRCA are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. The first person from a family known to carry the mutation, the index person, has to share genetic information with relatives. This study is aimed at determining the number of relatives tested for a BRCA mutation, and the exploration of facilitating and debilitating factors in the transmission of genetic information from index patient to relatives. METHODS: The study includes 50 female index patients, with a germline mutation in either BRCA1 or BRCA2. RESULTS: The percentage of first- and second-degree relatives tested for the BRCA-mutation was 36%. Uptake levels for predictive BRCA-mutation testing could not be explained by demographic or counseling characteristics, nor by cancer-related history. In 14 families, fewer than 20% of first- and second-degree relatives were tested. These families were compared with the other families. In retrospect, the index patients of families with few BRCA-mutation tests more often asked for support in the communication with family members (62% vs. 27%). A psychosocial worker had been absent more often during counseling (39% vs. 9%). Emotional factors debilitating the information transmission were only reported by index patients from families with few BRCA-mutation tests (18% vs. 0%), who also informed their parents less often (21% vs. 67%) and did so less often personally (38% vs. 71%). CONCLUSION: Uptake of predictive BRCA-mutation testing by first- and second-degree relatives is low. Emotional and behavioral factors of index patients are related to this uptake. Published 13 June 2005 in Fam Cancer, 4(2): 115-9.
© 2004-2008 Ovarian Cancer Research Today. All Rights Reserved. |
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