Objectives: To examine whether being a BRCA1/2 mutation carrier affects a wide array of aspects of life, and if so, how.
Methods: Participants were grouped according to their carrier status (carrier and noncarrier status), health status (affected or unaffected by cancer), and their enrollment at the counseling service (probands and other family members). One hundred and sixty-five women completed a self-administered questionnaire following their genetic consultation session.
Results: Probands/nonprobands and carriers/noncarriers did not differ with regard to demographic characteristics, health behaviors including medical checkups, the distress they experience or their resources (sense of coherence, social integration, religiosity). Individuals affected by cancer did differ on some of these aspects from participants without cancer.
Conclusions: From the results of this study, being a carrier could not be considered a psychosocial risk factor, nor does it seem to have an effect on carriers' resources and lifestyle.
Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel