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Changes in psychological distress after cancer genetic counselling: a comparison of affected and unaffected women

British Journal of Cancer volume 86, pages 43–50 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

This study sought to examine changes in psychological distress following cancer genetic counselling. Women attending a family cancer clinic completed questionnaires before their appointment and at 2 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after their appointment. Twenty-six women were at low risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, 76 were at moderate risk, 46 were at high risk and 46 women had previously had breast or ovarian cancer. All groups were compared with regard to measures of anxiety, depression, general psychological distress, worry about developing breast and ovarian cancer, and perceived risk of developing breast/ovarian cancer and perceived likelihood of carrying a genetic mutation. General psychological distress did not change over the course of the study and the groups did not differ on these measures. Worry about developing breast cancer and perceptions of the likelihood of carrying a genetic mutation significantly reduced following genetic counselling. On the whole women who had already had breast/ovarian cancer showed more concerns about ovarian cancer and raised perceptions of risk in comparison with the other groups, indicating the need for sensitive counselling of such women.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Cancer Research Campaign for financial support for this study. In addition, we would like to thank all the women who took part in the research and the following genetic counsellors who counselled some of the women: Sally Watts, Gillian Scott, Annelise Nehammer, Louise Izatt, Kristen Becker, Philip Beales. We are also grateful to Henry Potts for statistical advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Genetics, Guy's Hospital, St Thomas's Street, London, SE1 9RT, UK

    A Bish, C Jacobs, S Levene & S Hodgson

  2. Health Behaviour Unit, University College London, 2-16 Torrington Place, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    S Sutton

  3. ICRF Psychosocial Oncology Group, St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    A Ramirez

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  1. A Bish
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  2. S Sutton
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  3. C Jacobs
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  4. S Levene
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  5. A Ramirez
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  6. S Hodgson
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Correspondence to A Bish.

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Bish, A., Sutton, S., Jacobs, C. et al. Changes in psychological distress after cancer genetic counselling: a comparison of affected and unaffected women. Br J Cancer 86, 43–50 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6600030

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