| Summary: | Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. While advances have been
made in its detection and treatment, breast cancer is still responsible for significant
mortality annually. One aspect of treatment that needs to be considered is the type of
operation a woman should undergo. Studies have shown that fewer women are choosing
breast conserving surgery even though the survival rate is equivalent compared to
bilateral mastectomy. One component that can help guide this decision and establish
those that would benefit from contralateral risk reducing mastectomy is genetic testing.
Many studies have found that high penetrance mutations influence the type of operation
women undergo. There have, however, been no studies investigating whether undergoing
genetic testing and not carrying a high penetrance mutation influences one’s surgical
decision. This proposed study is a one-year prospective cohort study that aims to
determine if undergoing genetic testing and not carrying a high penetrance mutation
increases a woman’s likelihood of choosing contralateral risk reducing mastectomy. This
study will help understand how women use genetic counseling and testing information to
guide their surgical decision. In addition, this study will examine if future studies are
needed to improve breast cancer treatment counseling to decrease unnecessary surgery,
surgical complications and decrease cost.
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