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Risk Reduction Behaviors and Provider Communication Following Genetic Counseling and BRCA1 Mutation Testing in an African American Kindred
Author(s) -
Kinney Anita Yeomans,
Simonsen Sara Ellis,
Baty Bonnie Jeanne,
Mandal Diptasri,
Neuhausen Susan L.,
Seggar Kate,
Holubkov Richard,
Bloor Lindsey,
Smith Ken
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of genetic counseling
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.867
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1573-3599
pISSN - 1059-7700
DOI - 10.1007/s10897-006-9026-7
Subject(s) - genetic counseling , medicine , genetic testing , family medicine , breast cancer , observational study , ethnic group , public health , cancer , gynecology , oncology , nursing , genetics , sociology , anthropology , biology
Little is known about the impact of cancer genetic counseling and testing on health behaviors in racial and ethnic subgroups. This prospective observational study examined use of risk reduction strategies following BRCA1 counseling and testing. Participants were female members of an African American kindred who received genetic education, counseling and testing ( n = 40) and completed a 1‐year follow‐up interview. Mutation carriers were more likely to opt for breast (100%, 7/7) and ovarian (25%; 1 of 4) cancer surveillance than prophylactic surgery. Following genetic counseling, 71% (5/7) of the BRCA1 carriers who opted for surveillance reported having a mammogram within the year following receipt of their genetic test results. Ovarian cancer screening among mutation carriers increased from 0% at baseline to 25% (one of four) at 1 year. Compared to noncarriers (23%, 7/30), carriers (70%, 7/10) were more likely to discuss their BRCA1 test results with their primary health care providers. Surveillance for breast cancer was preferred to prophylactic surgery and chemoprevention as a way to reduce risk for these cancers. Our data indicate that patient‐provider communication about BRCA1 test results is suboptimal.