Decision Making Related to Cancer Risk-Reduction Among BRCA1/2 Carriers
Description: Women who learn, by genetic testing, that they are at high-risk for developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer may undertake several risk-reducing strategies including surgery (mastectomy and oophorectomy), chemoprevention, and screening. Little is known, however, about how women make decisions regarding breast and ovarian cancer risk- reduction strategies. The decision-making process is complicated and difficult because the effectiveness and long-term implications of breast and ovarian cancer risk-reduction strategies are not well understood. The social context as well as the emotional impact of being at high-risk may dramatically influence a womans ability to make decisions. Because of the highly personal nature of this decision, most health care providers attempt to support decision-making about risk-reducing strategies rather than recommend particular courses of action. In order to support women, and to develop and evaluate appropriate interventions, it is essential to understand how women who are at high-risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer make decisions about risk-reducing strategies. The purpose of this research is to investigate and describe womens experiences in making decisions about breast and ovarian cancer risk-reducing strategies following receipt of a positive genetic test result.
Amount: CA$66,000
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: Doctoral Research Award - Priority Announcement: Clinical Research
Start date: 2006-09-01
End date: 2009-08-31
Investigator: Amanda Howard
Institution: University of British Columbia
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 14
Funder award ID: 80474_1
OpenAlex ID: G7837709485