Does rapid genetic counseling and testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients cause additional psychosocial distress? Results from a randomized clinical trial
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Publication date
2016-02-01
Authors
Wevers, Marijke R
Ausems, Margreet G E M
Verhoef, Senno
Bleiker, Eveline M A
Hahn, Daniela E E
Brouwer, Titia
Hogervorst, Frans B L
van der Luijt, Rob B.
Van Dalen, Thijs
Theunissen, Evert B.
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Document Type
Article
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taverne
Abstract
Purpose:Female breast cancer patients carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation have an increased risk of second primary breast cancer. Rapid genetic counseling and testing (RGCT) before surgery may influence choice of primary surgical treatment. In this article, we report on the psychosocial impact of RGCT.Methods:Newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at risk for carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation were randomized to an intervention group (offer of RGCT) or a usual care control group (ratio 2:1). Psychosocial impact and quality of life were assessed with the Impact of Events Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Cancer Worry Scale, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23. Assessments took place at study entry and at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits.Results:Between 2008 and 2010, 265 patients were recruited into the study. Completeness of follow-up data was more than 90%. Of the 178 women in the intervention group, 177 had genetic counseling, of whom 71 (40%) had rapid DNA testing and 59 (33%) received test results before surgery. Intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses showed no statistically significant differences between groups over time in any of the psychosocial outcomes.Conclusions:In this study, RGCT in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients did not have any measurable adverse psychosocial effects.
Keywords
BRCA1/2, breast cancer, genetic counseling and testing, psychosocial distress, quality of life, Taverne, Genetics(clinical), Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Citation
Wevers, M R, Ausems, M G E M, Verhoef, S, Bleiker, E M A, Hahn, D E E, Brouwer, T, Hogervorst, F B L, Van Der Luijt, R B, Van Dalen, T, Theunissen, E B, Van Ooijen, B, De Roos, M A, Borgstein, P J, Vrouenraets, B C, Vriens, E, Bouma, W H, Rijna, H, Vente, J P, Kieffer, J M, Valdimarsdottir, H B, Rutgers, E J T, Witkamp, A J & Aaronson, N K 2016, 'Does rapid genetic counseling and testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients cause additional psychosocial distress? Results from a randomized clinical trial', Genetics in Medicine, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 137-144. https://doi.org/10.1038/gim.2015.50