title: Psychotherapy with a woman at high risk for developing breast cancer.
abstract: Women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer increasingly consult with psychiatrists about the psychological, social, and sexual consequences of genetic testing and risk-reducing surgeries such as bilateral mastectomy and oophorectomy. The 9-year psychotherapy with a woman who had bilateral mastectomy because of her family history of breast cancer and who later tested negative for BRCA1 is described and discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Massie
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Muskin
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D015413:Mastectomy, Simple / Q000523:psychology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011247:Pregnancy