Details:

Alternative Title:
Genet Med
Personal Author:
Bellcross, Cecelia A. ; Peipins, Lucy A. ; McCarty, Frances A. ; Rodriguez, Juan L. ; Hawkins, Nikki A. ; ... More +
Bellcross, Cecelia A. ; Peipins, Lucy A. ; McCarty, Frances A. ; Rodriguez, Juan L. ; Hawkins, Nikki A. ; Alford, Sharon Hensley ; Leadbetter, Steven Less -
Description:
Background

Evidence shows underutilization of cancer genetics services. To explore the reasons behind this underutilization, this study evaluated characteristics of women who were referred for genetic counseling and/or had undergone BRCA1/2 testing.

Methods

An ovarian cancer risk perception study stratified 16,720 eligible women from the Henry Ford Health System into average-, elevated-, and high-risk groups based on family history. We randomly selected 3,307 subjects and interviewed 2,524 of them (76.3% response rate).

Results

Among the average-, elevated-, and high-risk groups, 2.3, 10.1, and 20.2%, respectively, reported genetic counseling referrals, and 0.8, 3.3, and 9.5%, respectively, reported having undergone BRCA testing. Personal breast cancer history, high risk, and perceived ovarian cancer risk were associated with both referral and testing. Discussion of family history with a doctor predicted counseling referral, whereas belief that family history influenced risk was the strongest BRCA testing predictor. Women perceiving their cancer risk as much higher than other women their age were twice as likely (95% confidence interval: 2.0–9.6) to report genetic counseling referral.

Conclusion

In a health system with ready access to cancer genetic counseling and BRCA testing, women who were at high risk underutilized these services. There were strong associations between perceived ovarian cancer risk and genetic counseling referral, and between a belief that family history influenced risk and BRCA testing.


Subject:
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Article
BRCA1 And BRCA2 Genes
Family History
Genetic Counseling
Genetic Testing
Hereditary Breast And Ovarian Cancer Syndrome

Source:
Genet Med. 17(1):43-50.
Pubmed ID:
24946155
Pubmed Central ID:
PMC4522900
Document Type:
Journal Article
Funding:
LBP6/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
Collection(s):
CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:d59fb275835324050e656538a81707d64565df4b0e088d2b50efa73bc785618c
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	nihms-708770-f0001.gif	gif
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