Genetic Susceptibility Testing for Breast Cancer

This project will develop knowledge about health care provider and patient perceptions of breast cancer, to guide the clinical use of DNA-based tests to measure inherited susceptibility for this condition. Information about inherited susceptibility to breast cancer could stigmatize individuals with positive test results and alter concepts of personal responsibility for health. As a new and highly sophisticated technology, DNA-based genetic susceptibility testing may also have potential for over-use, thus representing a new threat to cost-effective clinical care. The study will address these issues with questionnaires and interviews to determine: (1) how women receiving routine health care and primary care (PC) providers think about breast cancer risk, and their receptiveness to the use of a test for inherited susceptibility to breast cancer; (2) how women react to receiving risk information about breast cancer based on their family history; and (3) whether PC providers differ from genetics professionals in their approach to counseling concerning genetic risk for breast cancer. In addition, a Policy Group, comprising study investigators and experts in genetics, ethics and health services delivery will be formed and will meet regularly during the course of the project, to review study data and to identify the major policy considerations applicable to the use of the genetic susceptibility testing for breast cancer. (Member of CGSC)