THE IMPACT OF GENETIC-COUNSELING ON RISK PERCEPTION IN WOMEN WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF BREAST-CANCER

Women with a family history of breast cancer generally self-refer beca use they have a feeling that their risk is high. However, they have, i n general, only a hazy notion of the population risk of breast cancer and their own risk in relation to this. It is probable that they are h elped by genetic counselling and, if at substantial risk, by annual ma mmography. However, the psychological impact of assigning true risk an d the value of mammography need to be evaluated. We have assessed risk perception by questionnaire in 517 new referrals to a family history clinic and 200 women returning to the clinic at least 1 year after cou nselling. Correct assignment of population lifetime risk of breast can cer was 16% in the uninformed precounsel group and 33% in the post-cou nsel group, likewise personal risk was correct in 11% and 41% respecti vely. Post-counsel women were significantly more likely to retain info rmation if they were sent a post-clinic letter or if they assessed the ir personal risk as too high initially.