Why do women attend familial breast cancer clinics?

The increasing demand for genetic assessment for familial breast cancer has necessitated the development of cancer genetics services. However, little is known about the factors motivating the client population likely to appro ach these services. A cross sectional questionnaire survey of 1000 women wi th a family history of breast cancer was conducted to identify self-reporte d reasons for attending a familial breast cancer clinic and possible differ ences in the characteristics of women who were attending for diverse reason s. Before attendance at clinic, 833 women completed a baseline questionnair e (83% response rate). Women who gave personal risk (n=188), awareness of a family history (n=120), risk to family members (n=84), reassurance (n=69), genetic testing (n=65), breast screening (n=46), or prevention (n=39) as t heir main reason for attending were compared on demographic and medical var iables, and on psychological variables including general anxiety, cancer wo rry, perceived risk, and attitudes towards prophylactic surgery and genetic testing. Important differences in the psychological characteristics of the se groups were found, which were unrelated to reported family history. In p articular, women who primarily wanted genetic testing felt extremely vulner able to developing breast cancer, were more likely to be considering prophy lactic surgery, and perceived fewer limitations of testing, Those who prima rily wanted reassurance were highly anxious about the disease. We recommend that cancer genetics services take into consideration the informational an d psychological needs and concerns of their client group.