Impact of cancer risk perception on Oncology Genetic Counseling

Abstract

The cancer genetic counseling oncology helps for detecting families at high risk for hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, due to BRCA1/2 pathogenic mutations. Objective: To assess the perception of cancer risk in women with a personal and/or family history of hereditary breast/ovarian cancer, assess the perception of risk based on the detection of the presence/absence of a pathogenic mutation, and the preventive measure chosen after completion of the study genetic (periodic follow-up or risk-reducing surgery). Method: an assessment of sociodemographic and clinical variables and perception of cancer risk was carried out retrospectively in a group of women carriers of the mutation who underwent genetic testing since 1998, and prospectively in a group of women who underwent genetic testing since 2015. The global sample was made up of 262 women (173 newly studied women and 89 previously studied mutation carrier women). Result: Significant differences were found in women who decided to opt for risk-reducing surgery, who presented a higher risk perception than those who chose follow-up, and a significant decrease in this perception was observed after carrying out the surgery. Conclusions: It is necessary to evaluate the perception of risk of the participants in CGO.