H. Chaliki et al., WOMENS RECEPTIVITY TO TESTING FOR A GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO BREAST-CANCER, American journal of public health, 85(8), 1995, pp. 1133-1135
Four hundred eighty-four patients undergoing mammography and 498 patie
nts visiting their obstetrician-gynecologist were asked whether they w
ould take a breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) test to detect a genetic susceptib
ility to breast cancer. More than 90% in both groups said they would t
ake the test. Women were more likely to accept if they were regularly
having breast examinations by a physician, believed that mammography e
ffectively detects early breast cancer, and believed that early breast
cancer is curable. If shown to have inherited a susceptibility, many
reported that they would be very anxious, would want the test repeated
, would examine their breasts more often than monthly, and would want
mammography more often than yearly. Many also reported that they would
recommend testing to relatives.