Acceptance for preventive genetic testing and prophylactic surgery in women with a family history of breast and gynaecological cancers.
The fear of family members of patients with breast or gynaecologic cancer of developing a similar disease is often high. We investigated the acceptance for genetic testing of untested women with a positive family history and their attitude for prophylactic surgery. A total of 659 women with a familial history of breast or gynaecologic cancer were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding their interest in genetic testing for breast cancer as well as for gynaecologic carcinoma and their interest in prophylactic surgery. Genetic testing is seen to be accepted by the majority of participants: 85.0 and 77.8% chose a genetic test for breast and gynaecologic cancer, respectively. Prophylactic surgery was much less chosen; prophylactic mastectomy as well as prophylactic hysterectomy or bilateral prophylactic oophorectomy was an option only for a minority of women. Genetic testing for risk assessment of healthy women with a positive family history was observed to be accepted by a majority of participants. Prophylactic surgery was an option only for a minority and was not acceptable for most of the women.
Ackermann
Sven
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany. sven.ackermann@gyn.imed.uni-erlangen.de
Lux
Michael Patrick
MP
Fasching
Peter Andreas
PA
Strissl
Pamela
P
Renner
Stefan Peter
SP
Poehls
Uwe
U
Bender
Hans-Georg
HG
Beckmann
Matthias Wilhelm
MW
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000523:psychology*; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008408:Mastectomy; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*