Annals of Surgical Oncology, Vol 5, Issue 7 607-612, Copyright © 1998 by Society of Surgical Oncology

ARTICLES

Awareness and attitudes concerning BRCA gene testing

A. Mogilner, M. Otten, J. D. Cunningham and S. T. Brower
Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.

BACKGROUND: The availability of a commercial test for the breast cancer susceptibility genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, has generated interest in both the medical community and the general public. METHODS: Patients and family members were approached in the waiting room and asked to fill out an anonymous questionnaire about their awareness of breast cancer genes and breast cancer gene testing, and their desire to be tested. chi2 analysis was used to analyze frequencies between groups. RESULTS: A total of 354 women completed a questionnaire concerning the breast cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. The very young, the very old, and African-Americans were the least informed in terms of awareness of the genes and the availability of testing for the breast cancer susceptibility genes. Jewish people, people with a college education or beyond, people earning more than $30,000 a year, and Caucasians were more aware of the genes and of testing for these genes. Interest in being tested was similar in all groups, except for participants over 60 and those who had only an elementary-school education. CONCLUSIONS: Information concerning the breast cancer susceptibility genes has not reached the general public uniformly. A concerted effort is needed if this information is to be passed on to those people at risk.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. E. Ropka, J. Wenzel, E. K. Phillips, M. Siadaty, and J. T. Philbrick Uptake rates for breast cancer genetic testing: a systematic review. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., May 1, 2006; 15(5): 840 - 855. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Peters, A. Rose, and K. Armstrong The Association between Race and Attitudes about Predictive Genetic Testing Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., March 1, 2004; 13(3): 361 - 365. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E Sermijn, G Goelen, E Teugels, L Kaufman, M Bonduelle, B Neyns, B Poppe, A De Paepe, and J De Greve The impact of proband mediated information dissemination in families with a BRCA1/2 gene mutation J. Med. Genet., March 1, 2004; 41(3): e23 - 23. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Gwyn, S. W. Vernon, and P. M. Conoley Intention to Pursue Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer among Women due for Screening Mammography Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2003; 12(2): 96 - 102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Bottorff, P. A. Ratner, L. G. Balneaves, C. G. Richardson, M. McCullum, T. Hack, K. Chalmers, and J. Buxton Women's Interest in Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Risk: The Influence of Sociodemographics and Knowledge Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2002; 11(1): 89 - 95. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M Welkenhuysen, G Evers-Kiebooms, M Decruyenaere, E Claes, and L Denayer A community based study on intentions regarding predictive testing for hereditary breast cancer J. Med. Genet., August 1, 2001; 38(8): 540 - 547. [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Bosompra, T. Ashikaga, B. S. Flynn, J. K. Worden, and L. J. Solomon Psychosocial factors associated with the public's willingness to pay for genetic testing for cancer risk: a structural equations model Health Educ. Res., April 1, 2001; 16(2): 157 - 172. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. T. Penson, M. V. Seiden, K. M. Shannon, M. L. Lubratovich, M. Roche, B. A. Chabner, and T. J. Lynch Jr. Communicating Genetic Risk: Pros, Cons, and Counsel Oncologist, April 1, 2000; 5(2): 152 - 161. [Abstract] [Full Text]