title: Quality of Life and Psychological State in Chinese Breast Cancer Patients Who Received BRCA1/2 Genetic Testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to understand the quality of life (QOL) and psychological state (PS) of Chinese breast cancer patients who received BRCA1/2 genetic testing; to examine the psychological changes between BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and non-carriers; and to further explore the psychological experience of BRCA1/2 mutation carriers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was combined with quantitative and qualitative designs. First, we performed a quantitative investigation using FACT-B (Chinese version) and Irritability, Depression and Anxiety scale (IDA) to assess the QOL and PS in breast cancer patients who received BRCA1/2 genetic testing. Then semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews among 13 mutation carriers were conducted in hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results from the quantitative study showed QOL scores were relatively high and the IDA scores were relatively low among the patients, and there was no significant difference in the QOL or IDA scores between non-carriers and carriers. Based on the qualitative analysis, four main themes emerged: (1) Finding the reason for having breast cancer; (2) Negative emotions; (3) Behavioral changes; (4) Lack of information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that QOL and PS are good among the breast cancer patients who received genetic testing. Genetic testing itself does not cause long psychosocial effects. BRCA1/2 mutation carriers may have certain negative emotions at the first stage they knew the testing results and may initiate behavioral and lifestyle changes. The patients with a BRCA1/2 mutation desire knowledge with regard to genetic aspects in mainland China. Professional information and advice can be provided to relieve the patients' negative emotions when they were informed of gene defect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Administration, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiajia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Administration, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiaqin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiaochen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Guangyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Genhong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Canming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qixia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhenzhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Breast Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.|Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D019313:BRCA1 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001940:Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D019313:BRCA1 Protein; C492913:BRCA1 protein, human; D024682:BRCA2 Protein