35 percent of patients with breast cancer worried about genetic risks to themselves, family members

the Oncology Nurse Advisor take:

According to a new study conducted at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, researchers have found that a third of women diagnosed with breast cancer are concerned about the genetic risk of a family member developing cancer or developing other cancers themselves.

For the study, researchers surveyed 1,536 women who had been treated for breast cancer that were included in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) databases.

Results showed that 35% of women with breast cancer expressed a strong desire for genetic testing, while 43% did not have a discussion about genetic testing with a health care professional.

The study also found that racial minority participants were less likely than white patients to discuss genetic testing with a health care professional despite a strong desire to do so.

Researchers found that many patients, particularly Latinas who spoke only Spanish, were concerned that their loved ones might get breast cancer in the future due to inherited risk.

Study results were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.