In:
Journal of Genetic Counseling, Wiley, Vol. 24, No. 6 ( 2015-12), p. 890-907
Abstract:
Little is known about the process of psychosocial adaptation to familial risk in tested and untested individuals at increased familial risk of cancer. This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of 36 women participating in the K athleen Cuningham Con sortium for Research into Fa milial B reast cancer (kConFab) Psychosocial study. Facilitators and challenges in psychosocial adaptation were identified through semi‐structured interviews. The women, who were either tested (carriers or non‐carriers of breast cancer susceptibility mutations) or untested (ineligible for testing or eligible but delayed or declined testing), described personal, support network and healthcare characteristics that impacted on the adaptation process. Challenges in one domain could be overcome by facilitators in other domains and key differences relating to whether women had undergone testing, or not, were identified. Tested and untested women with an increased familial risk of breast cancer may benefit from support tailored to their mutation testing status in order to enhance adaptation.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1059-7700
,
1573-3599
DOI:
10.1007/s10897-015-9824-x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2015
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2016899-8
SSG:
12
SSG:
5,2
