Survey of primary care physicians ’ views about breast and ovarian cancer screening for true BRCA1/2 non-carriers

This study aimed to describe breast and ovarian cancer screening recommendations that primary care physicians would consider advisable for young trueBRCA1/2 non-carriers. One hundred thirty-four family physicians and 123 gynecologists (response rate 45%) completed a cross-sectional mailed survey administered in the Province of Quebec, Canada. The survey included questions about basic genetic knowledge and screening recommendations for two fictitious cases (<  40 years), one carrier and one non-carrier, from aBRCA1/2 mutation –positive family. Screening exams considered advisable did not differ significantly between family physicians and gynecologists. More than 75% of physicians considered the cancer risks of true non-carriers to be comparable with that of the general population and 14% to be a little higher. Still, 5 3% would prescribe a biennial and or even an annual (27%) mammography to a non-carrier woman before the recommended starting age. Physician considerations of non-carriers’ expectations or requests for screening were associated with more screening prescriptions. More than half of primary care physi cians would recommend more mammography screenings than expected for a young trueBRCA1/2 non-carrier. Personalized cancer risk assessment may help primary care physicians tailor screening of women fromBRCA1/2 mutation –positive families and allow these women to make more informed choices regarding cancer risk management options.
Source: Journal of Community Genetics - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research