Alexandra Michel, Michel Dorval, Jocelyne Chiquette, Josée Savard
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) affects virtually all patients who have been treated for cancer, to varying degrees. Breast cancer survivors who carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation are at high risk of cancer recurrence. No study has yet assessed FCR specifically in this population.
Objectives: This cross-sectional study, conducted in women who were treated for breast cancer and carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation, aimed to: (1) assess the mean level of FCR and estimate the proportion of patients with clinical levels of FCR; (2) examine the relationships between FCR and selected psychological variables (e.g., avoidance, intolerance to uncertainty) and quality of life; (3) explore whether FCR levels vary as a function of the past preventive treatment received; and (4) to assess the associations between FCR and the presence of decisional conflict or regret regarding the various preventive options.
Method: Participants were recruited through an e-mail sent to an oncogenetic network mailing list (Réseau ROSE). Participants were asked to complete a battery of questionnaires online assessing FCR and other psychological and quality of life variables.
Results: A total of 89 women completed the survey. Most participants had undergone a preventive mastectomy (62.9%) and a preventive salpingo-oophorectomy (75.3%) at the time of the study. The mean Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-severity score was 16.8, which exceeds the clinical cut-off score of 13, and 70.8% of the participants showed a clinical level of FCR. FCR was significantly associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, and higher avoidance and intolerance of uncertainty, but not with quality of life. No significant difference was observed on the total FCR score between women who had received preventive surgery (mastectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy) and those considering it, and those not considering it. The association was significant between higher FRC scores and greater decisional conflicts and regrets about choosing to undergo preventive surgery.
Conclusion: These data suggest that FCR is a significant problem for breast cancer survivors carrying a BRCA1/2 genetic mutation, even after undergoing a prophylactic surgery. This highlights the importance of providing these women with specific psychological intervention focusing on FCR.
期刊介绍:
Hereditary Cancer in Clinical Practice is an open access journal that publishes articles of interest for the cancer genetics community and serves as a discussion forum for the development appropriate healthcare strategies.
Cancer genetics encompasses a wide variety of disciplines and knowledge in the field is rapidly growing, especially as the amount of information linking genetic differences to inherited cancer predispositions continues expanding. With the increased knowledge of genetic variability and how this relates to cancer risk there is a growing demand not only to disseminate this information into clinical practice but also to enable competent debate concerning how such information is managed and what it implies for patient care.
Topics covered by the journal include but are not limited to:
Original research articles on any aspect of inherited predispositions to cancer.
Reviews of inherited cancer predispositions.
Application of molecular and cytogenetic analysis to clinical decision making.
Clinical aspects of the management of hereditary cancers.
Genetic counselling issues associated with cancer genetics.
The role of registries in improving health care of patients with an inherited predisposition to cancer.