WOMEN WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILIAL BREAST-CANCER RISK - A STUDY ON GENETIC ADVICE IN GENERAL-PRACTICE

Aims. To ascertain whether women who consulted their GP because they p erceived themselves as at increased risk of familial breast cancer wer e indeed at increased risk, and to evaluate potential strategies for a ssessing genetic risk of breast cancer in general practice. Methods. S ixty-seven out of 81 women who had consulted their GP for advice about their possible increased risk of developing breast cancer due to brea st cancer in the family were interviewed. Familial breast cancer risk was assessed by a clinical geneticist. This assessment was compared wi th two recent guidelines for referral for genetic counselling. Results . More than half (52%; n = 35) the women had a relative risk of two an d over for developing breast cancer, while another half of these 35 (2 5%; n = 17) had a relative risk of three and over. All the women (n = 17) with a relative risk of three and over were identified by means of the two current guidelines for referral for genetic counselling, whil e more than half of the women (61%; n = 11) with a relative risk betwe en two and three were identified. Conclusions. More than half th are i ndeed at increased risk of breast cancer. Current guidelines correctly identify women at high risk. However, doubts about the health gain an d feasibility of referral warrant caution, and need further investigat ion.