A follow-up study on men tested for BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations: impacts and coping processes.
Psychooncology
; 22(2): 417-25, 2013 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-22135240
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The objective of this study was to examine cognitive, emotional, and behavioral impacts of testing for germline mutations in breast/ovarian cancer-associated genes (BRCA1/BRCA2) among men who undergo genetic testing.METHODS:
A cross-sectional study compared 51 mutation carriers with 30 men who tested negative for the mutations in both genes. Telephone interviews were conducted with all participants at a median of 4 years after disclosure of test results in a genetic counseling context. Testing-related distress, cancer risk perceptions, perceived behavioral changes following testing, and perceptions of breast cancer were measured using standard questionnaires.RESULTS:
Up to 4 years postgenetic testing, 48% of those who tested positively report that the test increased their perceptions of risk, and 74% of them increased surveillance for cancer. Men who had been tested as non-carriers did not report increased perceived risk (0%) and relatively few increased surveillance (31%). Carriers were significantly more distressed from testing, perceived breast cancer as having less consequences and emotional effects on the patient, and as being more treatable than non-carriers.CONCLUSIONS:
These results have implications with regard to the Self Regulatory Theory. They show that (i) illness representations are affected by fear-arousing health information; (ii) risk perceptions elicit health behaviors; and (iii) men tested for BRCA mutations have specific concerns that should be attended to.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Adaptation, Psychological
/
Genetic Testing
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Breast Neoplasms, Male
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Genes, BRCA1
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Genetic Predisposition to Disease
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Genes, BRCA2
/
Genetic Counseling
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Psychooncology
Journal subject:
NEOPLASIAS
/
PSICOLOGIA
Year:
2013
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Israel