AI Article Synopsis

  • The study investigated emotional reactions to Lynch syndrome mutation-positive test results in South African individuals, revealing eight different emotional responses, notably secrecy due to disbelief and misinterpretation of results as a cancer diagnosis.
  • High disclosure rates of test results to family members contrasted with lower rates to healthcare providers, and while many participants communicated their results, discussions on implications and predictive testing options were often lacking.
  • The findings emphasize the importance of understanding emotional responses and communication patterns to enhance genetic counseling for families affected by Lynch syndrome.

Article Abstract

Objective: Data pertaining to Lynch syndrome within a developing country are sparse. This study explored the emotional reaction to a mutation-positive test result among a group of individuals from South Africa. As genetic information is not only limited to the individual but extends to the biological family, communication patterns and uptake of testing among at-risk family members was also investigated.

Methods: Eighty individuals participated in this qualitative interview study.

Results: Eight emotional reactions were observed, of which two were of particular concern: (1) secrecy due to disbelief and (2) interpretation of a mutation-positive result as a cancer diagnosis. Disclosure rates of personal genetic test results were high to family members, but low to general healthcare providers. Disclosing the test result was not always followed by a discussion of implications of the genetic information or availability of predictive testing for at-risk family members. The uptake rate of predictive testing among the participants' siblings and children was 97% and 73.6%, respectively.

Conclusion: Awareness of concerning emotional reactions following the delivery of a genetic test result and insight into disclosure patterns, especially the information that is not communicated, will prove beneficial in improving the effectiveness of counselling and management in Lynch syndrome families.

Practice Implications: Implementation of these findings into the PT programme will have a positive effect on the genetic counseling process.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2013.02.001DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

lynch syndrome
12
test result
12
family members
12
disclosure patterns
8
patterns uptake
8
testing at-risk
8
at-risk family
8
emotional reactions
8
genetic test
8
predictive testing
8

Similar Publications

Hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes and inflammatory bowel disease: results from a registry-based study.

Int J Colorectal Dis

January 2025

Hereditary Digestive Tract Tumors Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Dei Tumori, Via Giacomo Venezian 1, 20133, Milan, Italy.

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the progression of high-grade dysplasia (HGD)/CRC in patients with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (HCSS) and concomitant inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs).

Methods: We described the natural history of a series of patients with confirmed diagnosis of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes (HCCSs) and concomitant IBDs who were referred to the Hereditary Digestive Tumors Registry at the Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori of Milan.

Results: Between January 1989 and April 2024, among 450 patients with APC-associated polyposis and 1050 patients with Lynch syndrome (LS), we identified six patients with IBDs (five with UC, one with ileal penetrating CD) and concomitant HCCSs (five with LS, one with APC-associated polyposis).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Frailty is a geriatric syndrome of significant public health concern that causes vulnerability to physiologic stressors and an increased risk of mortality and hospitalizations. Dietary intake and quality are contributing factors to the development of frailty. The Mediterranean diet is known to be one of the healthiest eating patterns with promising health impacts for prevention.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In today's world, with its continuing advancements in genetics, the identification of Lynch syndrome (LS) increasingly relies on sophisticated genetic testing techniques. Most guidelines recommend a tailored surveillance program, as well as personalized prophylactic and therapeutic approaches, according to the type of dMMR gene mutation. Carriers of path_MLH1 and path_MSH2 genes have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC), despite intensive colonoscopic surveillance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for fertility-sparing treatment in Lynch syndrome-associated endometrial cancer (LS-EC).

Methods: Four LS-EC cases received programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors for fertility preservation at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from 2017 to 2023. The clinical data and long-term outcomes were retrospectively reviewed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!