title: Strategies for recruitment of relatives of BRCA mutation carriers to a genetic testing program in the Bahamas.
abstract: The prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations among unselected breast cancer patients in the Bahamas is 23%. It is beneficial to advise relatives of mutation carriers that they are candidates for genetic testing. Women who test positive are then eligible for preventive interventions, such as oophorectomy. It is not clear how often relatives of women with a mutation in the Bahamas wish to undergo genetic testing for the family mutation. Furthermore, it is not clear how best to communicate this sensitive information to relatives in order to maximize patient compliance. We offered genetic testing to 202 first-degree relatives of 58 mutation carriers. Of 159 women who were contacted by the proband or other family member, only 14 made an appointment for genetic testing (9%). In contrast, among 32 relatives who were contacted directly by the genetic counselor, 27 came for an appointment (84%). This study suggests that for recruitment of relatives in the Bahamas, direct contact by counselor is preferable to using the proband as an intermediary.
authors: Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative Foundation, Nassau, Bahamas.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Trottier
authors: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Doctors Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lunn
authors: Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Butler
authors: Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Curling
authors: Department of Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Turnquest
authors: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Royer
authors: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: M R
authors: MR
authors: Akbari
authors: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Donenberg
authors: Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hurley
authors: Women's College Research Institute, Women's College Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Narod
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001444:Bahamas; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D010052:Ovariectomy; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human
keywords: BRCA1; BRCA2; breast cancer; genetic counseling