title: A comparison of male attendees and nonattendees at a familial cancer clinic.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This retrospective descriptive Australian study aimed to determine predictors of nonattendance at a familial cancer clinic by men from high-risk breast/ovarian cancer families.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-six men from families with a known BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation were recruited through an epidemiological database of high-risk breast cancer families and completed a self-administered questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate analyses using binary logistic regression showed that nonattendance at a familial cancer clinic by men from high-risk breast/ovarian cancer families was associated with younger age (51 vs. 55 years) (odds ratio = 1.03, P = 0.04) and lower cancer burden (one relative diagnosed versus two relatives diagnosed) (odds ratio = 2.6, P = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with men who attended a familial cancer clinic, nonattendees were younger and had fewer relatives diagnosed with breast/ovarian cancer. Unlike previous findings, cancer-specific worry, in particular avoidance was not associated with nonattendance. The number, age, and sex of biological children were not associated with attendance or nonattendance. Hence, some of the assumptions about what makes information on BRCA1 or BRCA2 status salient to men and may therefore influence their attendance at a cancer genetic clinic are not borne out in this study.
authors.affiliation: Calvary Health Care Sydney, Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia. Liz.Lobb@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: Elizabeth A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Lobb
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaff
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meiser
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Osseiran-Moisson
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hallowell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D010375:Pedigree; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult