Risk perceptions and knowledge of breast cancer genetics in women at increased risk of developing hereditary breast cancer

This multicentre study investigated accuracy of perceived breast cancer ris k and breast cancer genetics knowledge in 333 women at increased risk of de veloping hereditary breast cancer. Only women who had never been affected b y breast cancer and approached one of 14 familial cancer clinics for advice about their breast cancer risk were assessed prior to their attendance at the clinic. Eleven percent of women underestimated, 57% accurately estimate d their risk and 32% overestimated their breast cancer risk. Compared to ac curate estimators, overestimators were younger (OR = 0.97; 95% Cl, 0.95-1.0 0; p =.051), had higher breast cancer anxiety levels (OR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1. 01-1.05; p =.0038) and were more likely to fall into the lower breast cance r risk categories (p < .0001). These go findings suggest that an approach t hat exclusively relies on conveying factual information on breast cancer ri sk is unlikely to succeed in correcting excessive risk perceptions, and tha t it may be necessary to also address excessive breast cancer anxiety. Furt hermore, many women at high risk of developing breast cancer have misconcep tions about breast cancer genetics, underscoring the value of referral to c omprehensive specialist counselling services.