title: A follow-up study on men tested for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations: impacts and coping processes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to examine cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impacts of testing for germline mutations in breast/ovarian cancer-associated genes (BRCA1/BRCA2) among men who undergo genetic testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study compared 51 mutation carriers with 30 men who tested negative for the mutations in both genes. Telephone interviews were conducted with all participants at a median of 4 years after disclosure of test results in a genetic counseling context. Testing-related distress, cancer risk perceptions, perceived behavioral changes following testing, and perceptions of breast cancer were measured using standard questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Up to 4 years postgenetic testing, 48% of those who tested positively report that the test increased their perceptions of risk, and 74% of them increased surveillance for cancer. Men who had been tested as non-carriers did not report increased perceived risk (0%) and relatively few increased surveillance (31%). Carriers were significantly more distressed from testing, perceived breast cancer as having less consequences and emotional effects on the patient, and as being more treatable than non-carriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results have implications with regard to the Self Regulatory Theory. They show that (i) illness representations are affected by fear-arousing health information; (ii) risk perceptions elicit health behaviors; and (iii) men tested for BRCA mutations have specific concerns that should be attended to.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. shoshi@freud.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Shoshana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiloh
authors.forename: Efrat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dagan
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Blank
authors.forename: Eitan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000523:psychology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010465:Perception