Awareness of gynecologic surveillance in women from hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer families.
OBJECTIVE
To determine knowledge of gynecologic cancer risk and screening in women with HNPCC.


METHODS
Forty-three women with HNPCC were counseled through a gastrointestinal cancer risk program, and later sent a questionnaire regarding their screening practices for gynecologic neoplasms.


RESULTS
Twenty-seven (63%) of 43 responded. Fifteen (55%) of 27 had previously been diagnosed with cancer. Among 16 women with a uterus, 11 (69%) reported surveillance by ultrasound or endometrial sampling. Among 21 respondents with ovaries, 13 (62%) reported screening by ultrasound or CA125. Twenty-two (81%) of 27 had seen a gynecologist after receiving their HNPCC diagnosis, but only 12% recalled hearing about risks from their gynecologist, and 8% from their gynecologic oncologist. Genetic counselors were cited as the most common source (48%) of gynecologic cancer risk information.


CONCLUSIONS
While the effectiveness of surveillance remains in question, gynecologists can be a source of information regarding gynecologic cancer risk for women from HNPCC families.
Yang
Kathleen
K
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1600 Divisadero St., 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.
Allen
Brian
B
Conrad
Peggy
P
Powell
C Bethan
CB
Terdiman
Jonathan
J
Chen
Lee-may
LM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics*; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010349:Patient Compliance