Title
Effects of false-positive cancer screenings and cancer worry on risk-reducing surgery among BRCA1/2 carriers.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2015
Institution/Department
CORE
Journal Title
Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
MeSH Headings
Adult, Anxiety, Breast Neoplasms, Early Detection of Cancer, False Positive Reactions, Female, Genes, BRCA1, Genes, BRCA2, Heterozygote, Humans, Mastectomy, Middle Aged, Mutation, Ovarian Neoplasms, Ovariectomy, Prospective Studies, Risk Reduction Behavior
ISSN
1930-7810
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers are at increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Annual breast and semiannual ovarian cancer screening is recommended for early detection, which frequently leads to false-positive test results (FPTR). FPTR may influence cancer risk perceptions and worry, which in turn may affect an individual's decision to undergo risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) or risk-reducing bilateral mastectomy (RRBM). The purpose of this study was to examine: (a) the effect of false-positive breast and ovarian cancer screening test results on perceived cancer risk and cancer worry, and (b) the joint effects of FPTR, risk perceptions, and worry on the choice of risk-reducing surgery among BRCA1/2 mutation carriers undergoing an intensive cancer screening protocol.
METHOD: BRCA1/2 mutation carriers (N = 170) reported cancer risk perceptions and cancer worry during a prospective 4-year screening protocol (2001-2007) at the U.S. National Cancer Institute. FPTR and risk-reducing surgeries were objectively recorded.
RESULTS: FPTR at baseline were associated with transient elevations in worry; cumulative FPTR across the entire study were not associated with opting for risk-reducing surgery. However, cancer-specific worry was a strong predictor of surgery (RRSO: OR = 6.15; RRBM: OR = 4.27).
CONCLUSIONS: In women at inherited risk of breast and ovarian cancer, FPTR were not associated with large increases in cancer risk perception, cancer worry, or increased uptake of risk-reducing surgery. However, cancer-specific worry was an independent predictor of uptake of risk-reducing surgery and warrants consideration when counseling high-risk women regarding risk-reducing interventions.
First Page
709
Recommended Citation
Portnoy, David B; Loud, Jennifer T; Han, Paul K J; Mai, Phuong L; and Greene, Mark H, "Effects of false-positive cancer screenings and cancer worry on risk-reducing surgery among BRCA1/2 carriers." (2015). Maine Medical Center. 138.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/138
Last Page
717