BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: living with susceptibility.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether being a BRCA1/2 mutation carrier affects a wide array of aspects of life, and if so, how.


METHODS
Participants were grouped according to their carrier status (carrier and noncarrier status), health status (affected or unaffected by cancer), and their enrollment at the counseling service (probands and other family members). One hundred and sixty-five women completed a self-administered questionnaire following their genetic consultation session.


RESULTS
Probands/nonprobands and carriers/noncarriers did not differ with regard to demographic characteristics, health behaviors including medical checkups, the distress they experience or their resources (sense of coherence, social integration, religiosity). Individuals affected by cancer did differ on some of these aspects from participants without cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
From the results of this study, being a carrier could not be considered a psychosocial risk factor, nor does it seem to have an effect on carriers' resources and lifestyle.
Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, Carmel Medical Center, Technion, Haifa, Israel. mdlea@tx.technion.ac.il
Lea
L
Hagoel
Efrat
E
Neter
Sara
S
Dishon
Ofra
O
Barnett
Gad
G
Rennert
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D015438:Health Behavior; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009154:Mutation; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*