PSYCHOTHERAPY WITH A WOMAN AT HIGH-RISK FOR DEVELOPING BREAST-CANCER

Women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer increasingly c onsult with psychiatrists about the psychological, social, and sexual consequences of genetic testing and risk-reducing surgeries such as bi lateral mastectomy and oophorectomy. The 9-year psychotherapy with a w oman who had bilateral mastectomy because of her family history of bre ast cancer and who later tested negative for BRCA1 is described and di scussed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.