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Attitudes and compliance of clinical management after genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among high-risk Southern Chinese females with breast cancer history

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Abstract

Western studies have shown that the uptake rates of surveillance and prophylaxis may vary among BRCA mutation carriers between ethnicities. The present study is the first to investigate the behavioural impact and subjective attitudes in Southern Chinese high-risk families who had undergone BRCA1 and BRCA2 genetic testing up to 2.5 years post-testing. Individuals who had such genetic testing and have consented to participate in the prospective database of Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry were recruited and surveyed by a face-to-face or telephone interview. Sociodemographic information, genetic test results, pre- and post-testing surveillance, medical regimes, and attitudes towards the choice of clinical management were obtained by interviews and retrieval of medical records using this prospective database. 69 females with breast cancer history were recruited into the study. Twenty-nine female carriers (15 BRCA1 mutated gene-carriers and 14 BRCA2 mutated gene-carriers) and 40 non-carriers of a BRCA 1/2 mutations were interviewed. The uptake rate of high risk breast screening i.e. clinical breast examination, mammography, and breast MRI is significantly higher among female carriers (48.3 %) after knowing genetic testing results than before (p < 0.01). A strong significant relationship between any increase or decrease of ovarian ultrasound screening (OS) and genetic status is found (p < .001), with more females did OS and with a higher frequency after knowing genetic testing results among both carriers (22.7 % → 86.4 %) and non-carriers (37.5 % → 50.0 %). Among carriers, very few opted for prophylactic surgeries. The present cohort might see prophylaxis as last resort and would use traditional Chinese medicine in cancer risk management.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Ellen Li charitable Foundation and Kerry Group Kuok Foundation Limited for their continual support of the work of the Hong Kong Hereditary and High Risk Breast and Ovarian Cancer Programme and Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry; the team at the Department of Molecular Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital for contributing to the laboratory work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Breast Surgery, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

    Ava Kwong, Annie Tsz-Wai Chu, Christine Teen-Sum Wu & Desiree Man-Sik Tse

  2. The Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, Hong Kong, China

    Ava Kwong & Annie Tsz-Wai Chu

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  1. Ava Kwong
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Correspondence to Ava Kwong.

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Kwong, A., Chu, A.TW., Wu, C.TS. et al. Attitudes and compliance of clinical management after genetic testing for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer among high-risk Southern Chinese females with breast cancer history. Familial Cancer 13, 423–430 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10689-014-9706-7

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