When presented with counseling before and after testing, most BRCA 1/2-negative patients make informed decisions and experience decreased levels of anxiety.
Consumption of Red Meat Increases Breast Cancer Risk
Red meat consumption has long been suspected of contributing to cancer development. Find out how much red meat is too much.
Red meat consumption has long been suspected of contributing to cancer development. Find out how much red meat is too much.
‘When providing patients with counseling both before and after genetic testing for cancer, most report an increase in knowledge, and decreases in anxiety and uncertainty after learning the test results.’
To date, 124 women with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer who have tested negative for the cancer causing BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have participated in the study. Of the 95 who have completed pre-test counseling with a certified genetic counselor, 93 percent elected to move forward with multiplex testing, which allows for the simultaneous analysis of alterations in 25 cancer-related genes, and is an alternative to targeted tests that screen for individual forms of cancer. A targeted test might look only for inherited mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, for example. After testing, patients experienced declines in general anxiety, and an improvements in genetic knowledge. However, patient experiences may vary by test result with the potential for short-term increases in anxiety and sustained uncertainty for those who test positive, which the authors suggest may be a result of the limited amount of information available for some of the mutations.
Susan M. Domchek, executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA and senior author on the study, said, "There's much we don't know about some of the genes these panel tests examine. While it can be reassuring to hear that you don't have these mutations, we may not have a lot of information or effective treatment plans for some patients with a mutation in a cancer susceptibility gene. In those cases, patients are sometimes left with little choice but to wait until additional research helps guide management for their situations."
Small Intestinal Cancer Risk Factors Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
Learn all about the early signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of small intestine cancer.
Learn all about the early signs, symptoms, prevention and treatment of small intestine cancer.
Potatoes and Cabbage Alleviate Stomach Cancer Risk
Include potatoes and other white vegetables in your diet to reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer, suggest scientists at Zhejiang University in China.
Include potatoes and other white vegetables in your diet to reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer, suggest scientists at Zhejiang University in China.
ACOG Committee Stresses on Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment
The ACOG Committee has come up with general guidelines for collecting a family history for hereditary cancer risk assessment.
The ACOG Committee has come up with general guidelines for collecting a family history for hereditary cancer risk assessment.
