Psychosocial implications of progress in breast cancer genetics: uncertainties and challenges

✍ Scribed by Ann Cull

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 154 KB
• Volume: 5
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1063-3995
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1099-0879(199806)5:2<109::aid-cpp159>3.0.co;2-4

✦ Synopsis

The clinical application of new genetic knowledge about inherited predisposition to breast cancer raises many questions which psychologists are well placed to address. There are large margins of uncertainty around the information which people can be given about their personal risk of developing breast cancer based on their family history of this common disease. The effectiveness of available strategies for early detection or prevention of breast cancer has yet to be proven among younger (age 550 years) women at increased risk of the disease. Research in this area is in its infancy. Available data are reviewed to highlight the issues for future psychological research and the areas of need for clinical psychology services. This new genetic knowledge offers the potential for reducing the future mortality and morbidity associated with breast cancer. The challenge lies in organizing services in such a way as to provide information, appropriate to the level of risk, which the lay public can understand and use to make informed health care choices. A further challenge lies in minimizing the potential adverse psychological consequences for individuals and their families. Empirical data are need to inform policy and practice.